Soy, Oriental Goiter Problems, and Dr. Joe Schwarcz

[Guest guest]

Morton,

 

Sorry, but it looks like your doctor is a generalist who specializes in

" bringing chemistry to the people, " but I'm afraid he doesn't concern himself

much with the facts. He contends that a study showing that soy can cause

goiter in animals has no meaning because Orientals do not have higher rates

of goiter than " we do. " Below is his statement.

 

<< This is essentially irrelevant. Numerous studies have shown that large

doses of soy in animals have goitrogenic effects. This has no bearing on

humans consuming normal amounts of soy. We have probably more

epidemiological evidence about soy than any other food because of the

orientals' consumption of large amounts.

 

There is no evidence of increased goiter in Orientals who eat 30 times the

amount of soy we do! >>

 

He is absolutely wrong. China has had an enormous problem with goiter, and

in fact the UN has funded programs to get iodized salt to areas of China

where goiter is endemic. The following regarding goiter, cretinism, and

other problems associated with low iodine (soy causes goiter problems in

animals because it depletes the body's iodine) is from

http://www.people.virginia.edu/~jtd/iccidd/mi/idd_035.htm .

 

 

<< I. IDD Prevalence

 

Goitre:1986 national survey. Thirty two percent of the population is

considered to be living in areas where they are at risk of IDD with a goiter

rate of 9.2. 1992 national survey showed that 37% of the population

(425,000,000 persons) are living in risk areas. (MOPH, Department of Endemic

Disease Control data)

Cluster survey in 1995, 8-10 year old children, for all provinces showed

total goiter rate 20.4%. Only Beijing and Shanghai had TGR less than 5%.

Highest was Xinjiang (43%), Jiang-Xi (40%), Gansu (39%), Sichuan (38%),

Tianjin municipality (33%), Fujian (30%), Shaan-Xi (24%).

1997 - Similar survey, total TGR 10.8%; 21 provinces with TGR below 10%, 8

between 10-20%. Tibet (29%) and Xianjiang (22%) are highest.

1998 - Data from International Conference, Beijing

 

Cretinism: 1992 survey found 190,000 cretins. Historically, very severe in

many areas, particularly the north and west. TSH: Pilot study in Beijing

found 29% of newborns with a TSH greater than 5 IU/ml, suggesting a moderate

IDD problem, data from 1995. A study of newborn TSH levels in all provincial

capitals in 1994 showed that 15-55% had elevated TSH's. A workshop on

neonatal TSH measurement took place in 9/97, and laboratories are organizing

to introduce screening with TSH.

 

Urinary Iodine: The 1995 survey showed a range from 57-256 mcg/L median UI.

Only five provinces were less than 100. 1997 data showed almost all provinces

were greater than 100, and in 18 provinces the level was up to 300 mcg/L. In

Tibet it was 55, and in Xinjiang, 188. >>

 

It would obviously be valid to make the point that we are comparing countries

with iodized salt with a country without iodized salt and that contributes to

the goiter problem. Nevertheless, Dr. Schwarcz's statement is still patently

wrong about there not being any greater goiter problem. And so his rather

glib conclusion is suspect.

 

I have another problem with his statement about Orientals eating 30 times

more soy than we, and I don't even have to look up the figures. There are

very large numbers of Americans/Canadians, etc. who eat no soy at all, while

other groups are having soy drinks, soyburgers, soy desserts, and soy salads.

To lump them together make a statistical null.

 

Kathy

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Thank you Kathy. I was going to respond to the Dr. Schwarcz thread but you

said it so well.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Kathy wrote:

He [Dr. Schwarcz] is absolutely wrong. China has had an enormous problem

with goiter, and

in fact the UN has funded programs to get iodized salt to areas of China

where goiter is endemic. The following regarding goiter, cretinism, and

other problems associated with low iodine (soy causes goiter problems in

animals because it depletes the body's iodine) is from

http://www.people.virginia.edu/~jtd/iccidd/mi/idd_035.htm

 

It would obviously be valid to make the point that we are comparing

countries

with iodized salt with a country without iodized salt and that contributes

to

the goiter problem. Nevertheless, Dr. Schwarcz's statement is still

patently

wrong about there not being any greater goiter problem. And so his rather

glib conclusion is suspect.

 

I have another problem with his statement about Orientals eating 30 times

more soy than we, and I don't even have to look up the figures. There are

very large numbers of Americans/Canadians, etc. who eat no soy at all, while

other groups are having soy drinks, soyburgers, soy desserts, and soy

salads.

To lump them together make a statistical null.

 

Kathy

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

 

Joan McPhee, not an M.D.

mcpheej