Estrogen in Soy Products

Question
I've heard that there is a fair amount of estrogen in things like soy milk.  First, is this true?  And second, are there any health concerns for men as a result?  I've pretty much replaced dairy from my diet with soy milk products.

Thanks,
Marc

Answer
Soybeans contain isoflavones, which are a phytoestrogen or plant estrogen.  They are very weak estrogens that occur naturally in many foods and herbs. The chemical structure of phytoestrogens is similar but not identical to the estrogens produced by the body. The body is not able to convert phytoestrogens into estrogen, however, anecdotal evidence indicates there may be benefits from phytoestrogens for women during perimenopause because of weak estrogenic-like qualities. Some women report relief from minor symptoms such as hot flashes, anxiety, and irritability.  Being a male these plant estrogens are so weak that they will not increase your estrogen level and as stated above the body is not able to convert these phytoestrogens into estrogen in the body.
Hope that helps,
Kim Tessmer, RD LD

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