Soy and Male Fetal Development

[Jon Stark]

This should be of some interest here...
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tm....at_soy_

Quote[/b] ]The male rats whose mothers ate genistein during pregnancy also had lower testosterone levels and a larger prostate as adults and, at puberty, smaller testes, compared with rats whose mothers had none of the chemical in their diets, the study says.

Hopkins researchers stressed the findings do not indicate genistein has a similar effect in humans, but say they plan further research they hope will answer that question.

"We found that these males were de-masculinized," says researcher Sabra L. Klein. "This raises questions as to the effects that [genistein] can have on the developing fetus."

Frankly, I think a lot of radically vegan types would welcome "de-masculinization." (Not to sound like a T-mag contributor.)

 

[imported_edziu]

Interesting. This might relate to why the more vegetarian societies tend to be less warlike, and vice versa.

 

[Aaron_F]

The abstract provides no information, and I have to walk 20mins to get the full article. They say they fed the rats high, low and no genistein.
What they probbaly done is fed rats extremely high doses of it, and then noted the difference. Probably at doses humans are never likely to get anywhere near.
Most research, including a large meta analysis has shown no effect of soy on infant development, or the other favourate Tmag thing, male sexual function/infertility.
I hate soy, but for a whole different reason.
cos it tastes foul

 

[imported_edziu]

Yeah, the effect, if any, is likely minimal. But spread over a society? Who knows.

But most people in the know think it's mostly the "slaughterhouse effect." People who are in the habit of slaughtering animals for basic needs are more likely to embrace the habit of slaughtering for other reasons.

But that's not appropriate for this forum. . .

 

[restless]

Quote[/b] (edziu @ Mar. 29 2003,5:33)]But that's not appropriate for this forum. . .