soy and thyroid

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 7/31/02 1:30:54 PM, Gettingwell writes:

 

>Soy protein also has been shown to lower

>cholesterol, possibly via its thyroid hormone stimulating effect.

>http://lifeextensionvitamins.com/weight.html

>

Don't know what to believe -- directly contradicts Sally Falon and Mary Enig

at Westonaprice -- they and others (Mary Shannon and ithyroid) have claimed

that soy has anti-thyroid properties.

 

Namaste, Liz

<A HREF= " http://www.csun.edu/~ecm59556/Healthycarb/index.html " >

http://www.csun.edu/~ecm59556/Healthycarb/index.html</A>

[Guest guest]

I want to take a lot more soy too. I have thyroid lesions and

certainly don't want them to grow. I just got them biopsied and

thankfully they're benign. Yet, I 'really' need hormonal relief. I

read that a lot of research is inconclusive on this issue.

Kristee

>

> In a message dated 7/31/02 1:30:54 PM, Gettingwell writes:

>

> >Soy protein also has been shown to lower

> >cholesterol, possibly via its thyroid hormone stimulating effect.

> >http://lifeextensionvitamins.com/weight.html

> >

> Don't know what to believe -- directly contradicts Sally Falon and

Mary Enig

> at Westonaprice -- they and others (Mary Shannon and ithyroid)

have claimed

> that soy has anti-thyroid properties.

[Guest guest]

---Kristee, Pardon me...the research is inconclusive to whom?

Hormonal relief is spelled " HERBS " , although apparently with some

dietary changes are necessary and also plays a large role. It

depends on your symptoms and where you are on the aging scale.

Getting through menopause is the biggie. I'm happy to say I

accomplished that without any of those *problems* allopathic

medicine is saying one gets when they forgo HRT. Just to let you

know it IS possible to do it without any of those crazy drugs.

One of my online girlfriends was able to get thru it naturally even

after her hyst, and allo medicine says that is impossible.

Just my thoughts on the subject.

 

JoAnn Guest

angelprincessjo

Friendsforhealthnaturally

DietaryTipsForHBP

http://www.geocities.com/mrsjoguest/Womantowoman.html

 

In Gettingwell, " aquakat_01 " <aquakat_01> wrote:

> I want to take a lot more soy too. I have thyroid lesions and

> certainly don't want them to grow. I just got them biopsied and

> thankfully they're benign. Yet, I 'really' need hormonal relief. I

> read that a lot of research is inconclusive on this issue.

> Kristee

> >

> > In a message dated 7/31/02 1:30:54 PM, Gettingwell writes:

> >

> > >Soy protein also has been shown to lower

> > >cholesterol, possibly via its thyroid hormone stimulating

effect.

> > >http://lifeextensionvitamins.com/weight.html

> > >

> > Don't know what to believe -- directly contradicts Sally Falon

and

> Mary Enig

> > at Westonaprice -- they and others (Mary Shannon and ithyroid)

> have claimed

> > that soy has anti-thyroid properties.

[Guest guest]

Gettingwell , Ecmillerreid@a... wrote:

>

> In a message dated 7/31/02 1:30:54 PM, Gettingwell

writes:

>

> >Soy protein also has been shown to lower

> >cholesterol, possibly via its thyroid hormone stimulating effect.

> >http://lifeextensionvitamins.com/weight.html

> >

> Don't know what to believe -- directly contradicts Sally Falon and

Mary Enig

> at Westonaprice -- they and others (Mary Shannon and ithyroid)

have claimed

> that soy has anti-thyroid properties.

>

> Namaste, Liz

> <A HREF= " http://www.csun.edu/~ecm59556/Healthycarb/index.html " >

> http://www.csun.edu/~ecm59556/Healthycarb/index.html</A>

 

I have heard that soy can interfere with thyroid medication if you

are taking it - Dr. Weil stated that in his newsletter I believe.

[Guest guest]

<<I have heard that soy can interfere with thyroid medication if you

> are taking it - Dr. Weil stated that in his newsletter I believe.>>

 

Soy can interfere with your thyroid period. Some people with thyroid

disease believe soy caused their thyroid disease. Many cannot

tolerate eating soy (like me, who prior to a thyroid disease ate soy

daily) and considering it's a common additive to a lot of goods - it

can be frustrating.

 

The isoflavones in soy can interfere with the production of thyroid

hormones and with the uptake of iodine (which the thyroid needs).

It's believed to be the cause of thyroid goiters (which, I just read

3 to 5 % of the world population has goiters) and Hashi's (autoimmune

thyroid disease). Considering autoimmune thyroid disease primarily

effects women- women should be extra careful about eating soy and

especially using soy supplements.

 

A good outline is at:

http://thyroid.about.com/library/weekly/aa041202a.htm?terms=soy

[Guest guest]

on 12/22/02 3:21 AM, Gettingwell wrote:

>>> Soy protein also has been shown to lower cholesterol, possibly via its

>>> thyroid hormone stimulating effect.

>>> http://lifeextensionvitamins.com/weight.html

(Liz writes):

>> Don't know what to believe -- directly contradicts Sally Falon and Mary Enig

>> at Westonaprice -- they and others (Mary Shannon and ithyroid) have claimed

>> that soy has anti-thyroid properties.

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

 

Even in scientific evidence on any subject there will be seemingly

conflicting conclusions. Along this line, I can't say I agree with some of

the Life Extension Foundation material. There is enough evidence for me to

avoid soy based on the studies I have seen, the opinions of biochemists and

Ph.D.s whose opinions I respect and personal observation.

 

I believe Dr. Mary Enig and Sally Falon, Dr. Mike Fitzpatrick, Dr. Daniel

Sheehan, Dr. Daniel Doerge, Dr Craig Dees, Dr. David Zava, Mary Shomon and

others. However, I have not found any such reference by Dr. Andrew Weil on

his website, and an email concerning the subject I sent to him was never

answered.

 

DR. MARY ENIG:

 

Dr. Mary Enig says " To summarize, traditional fermented soy products such as

miso, natto and tempeh, which are usually made with organically grown

soybeans, have a long history of use that is generally beneficial when

combined with other elements of the Oriental diet including rice, sea foods,

fish broth, organ meats and fermented vegetables. The value of precipitated

soybean products is problematical, especially when they form the major

source of protein in the diet. Modern soy products including soy milks and

artificial meat and dairy products made from soy protein isolate and

textured vegetable protein are new to the diet and pose a number of serious

problems. "

 

Enig says soy products greatly inhibit zinc and iron absorption; in

test animals they cause enlarged organs, particularly the pancreas and

thyroid gland, and increased deposition of fatty acids in the liver.

 

Most soy products that imitate traditional American food items, including

baby formulas and some brands of soy milk, are made with soy protein

isolate, that is the soy protein isolated from the carbohydrate and fatty

acid components that naturally occur in the bean.

 

Soy processors have worked hard to get the antinutrients out of the finished

product, particularly soy protein isolate (SPI).

 

SPI (soy protein isolate) is not something you can make in your own kitchen.

Production takes place in industrial factories where a slurry of soy beans

is first mixed with an alkaline solution to remove fibre, then precipitated

and separated using an acid wash and, finally, neutralised in an alkaline

solution. Acid washing in aluminium tanks leaches high levels of aluminium

into the final product. The resultant curds are spray-dried at high

temperatures to produce a high-protein powder. A final indignity to the

original soybean is high-temperature, high-pressure extrusion processing of

soy protein isolate to produce textured vegetable protein (TVP).

 

DR. MIKE PITZPATRICK:

 

Dr. Mike Fitzpatrick says " Isoflavones belong to the flavonoid or

bioflavonoid family of chemicals, and are considered endocrine disruptors --

plants or other products that act as hormones, disrupting the endocrine

system, and in some cases, this disruption involves acting as an

anti-thyroid agent. (The grain millet, for example, contains high levels of

flavonoids, and is commonly known as problematic for thyroid function).

Flavonoids inhibit thyroid peroxidase (TPO), which disturbs proper thyroid

function. "

 

DR. DANIEL SHEEHAN:

 

Dr. Daniel Sheehan expresses concern about the effects soy may have on the

function of the thyroid gland. Animal study results, some of which date back

to 1959, link soy isoflavones to possible thyroid disorders, such as goiter.

A 1997 study in Biochemical Pharmacology identified genistein and daidzein

as inhibitors of thyroid peroxidase, which data suggest may prompt goiter

and autoimmune disorders of the thyroid. Critics of these studies suggest

that iodine deficiency may be a factor that needs to be considered when

evaluating study results.

 

DR. DANIEL DOERGE:

 

The March 1999 issue of Natural Health magazine has a feature on soy that

quotes Daniel R. Doerge, Ph.D., a researcher at the Food and Drug

Administration's National Center for Toxicological Research. Dr. Doerge has

researched soy's anti-thyroid properties, and has said " ...I see substantial

risks from taking soy supplements or eating huge amounts of soyfoods for

their putative disease preventive value. There is definitely potential for

interaction with the thyroid. "

 

New research looks at anti-thyroid effects of soy and its isoflavones:

 

One of the world's leading soy researchers, Dr. Daniel Doerge, is lead

author on a research review that was recently published. The study looked at

the evidence in both people and animals that soy has anti-thyroid effects.

 

There were a number of interesting findings:

 

* In animal studies, a diet heavy in soy was able to produce a severe

hypothyroid state characterized by decreased T4, increased TSH and enlarged

thyroid - but only when the animals were also iodine deficient.

 

* In other animal studies, only whole soy - but not isoflavones alone -

were sufficient to produce a hypothyroid condition, and again, when the

animals were also iodine deficient

 

* Soy-induced goiter, elevated TSH levels, and other hypothyroid indicators

can occur in humans in the absence of iodine deficiency.

 

* There is evidence that soy consumption may adversely affect the course of

autoimmune thyroid disease in women.

 

* Iodine deficiency is an increasing concern among Americans, because of

reduction in use of iodized salt as a treatment for high blood pressure.

Iodine deficiency may, in conjunction with soy consumption, be a combination

that can produce a hypothyroid condition in humans, and this warrants

further study.

 

* Because of the connections between soy isoflavone ability to stimulate

certain immune function, promote formation of antigens, and worsen

autoimmune disease, further study of the use of soy formula in children is

warranted.

+++++

 

Abstract

 

Inactivation of thyroid peroxidase by soy isoflavones, in vitro and

in vivo, " Doerge D, Chang H., J Chromatogr B Analyt Technol Biomed Life Sci.

2002 Sep 25;777(1-2):269

 

Division of Biochemical Toxicology, National Center for Toxicological

Research, 3900 NCTR Road, 72079, Jefferson, AR, USA

 

Soy-containing foods and dietary supplements are widely consumed for

putative health benefits (e.g. cancer chemoprevention, beneficial effects on

serum lipids associated with cardiovascular health, reduction of

osteoporosis, relief of menopausal symptoms). However, studies of soy

isoflavones in experimental animals suggest possible adverse effects as well

(e.g. enhancement of reproductive organ cancer, modulation of endocrine

function, anti-thyroid effects). This paper reviews the evidence in humans

and animals for anti-thyroid effects of soy and its principal isoflavones,

genistein and daidzein.

 

PMID: 12270219 [PubMed - in process]

+++++

 

DR. CRAIG DEES:

 

Dr Craig Dees of Oak Ridge National Laboratory has also found that soy

isoflavones cause breast cancer cells to grow. He reported that 'low

concentrations of genistein may stimulate MC-7 cells to enter the cell

cycle'. Dees concluded that ' women should not consume particular foods

(e.g. soy-derived products) to prevent breast cancer'.

 

DR. DAVID ZAVA:

 

" Soybean products are complete proteins, but are not for everyone. For

instance, hypothyroid people on thyroid medication should not use soy

products. Soy is an estrogen precursor which inhibits thyroxine.

 

" Even people who are not hypothyroid may have trouble digesting soy products

unless they are fermented, i.e. miso or tempeh. Dr. David Zava talks about

" antinutrients " in soy which are:

 

1) Phytates, which chelate (latch on to) minerals, particularly zinc.

 

2) Protease inhibitors that prevent proper digestion of food by pancreatic

enzymes.

 

3) Genistein, which inhibits glucose uptake. Genistein also inhibits

tyrosine kinases, enzymes that are over expressed in tumor cells but are

also needed for normal function of many normal tissues, particularly the

hippocampus [sNIP]...The amount of genistein in some of the Western products

is of concern, but may be perfectly safe. [sNIP]...Genistein also inhibits

aromatase, which converts androgens to estrogens.

 

4) Goitrogenic factors: Complex molecules in soy that block the uptake of

iodine, resulting in thyroid deficiency. The Asians eat most of their soy

with mineral rich sea vegetables containing plenty of iodine and zinc. We

don't. "

 

DR. GEORE MALKMUS:

 

In the countries that consume soy products, they generally also consume sea

vegetables to offset the thyroid inhibiting side of soy. They also are not

consuming all this genetically altered soy (soy sausages, soy milk, soy

burgers and so on. Dr George Malkmus at Hallelujah Acres says that soy

protein should not be consumed in large quantities and is suspicious of some

of the soy manufactured foods. Macrobiotic counselors also warn against

consuming daily amounts of soy.

 

MARY SHOMON:

 

Mary Shomon says, " " Why more information is not available about these

concerns is probably a function of the tremendous strength of the large

agricultural companies that dominate America's soy market. One thing is

clear, however. At the same time that health experts, and nearly every radio

and television health program in the nation touts soy as the miracle health

food of the new millennium, the United States pediatric and medical

community needs to get more on top of this issue, and begin to counsel their

patients regarding the serious impact use of soy products can have on

thyroid function. "

 

 

IF YOU HAVE TIME AND ARE SO INCLINED: (these links were checked and all

working as at Dec 22/02)

 

=== Links to Soy and Thyroid Information ===

 

The original truth-about-soy revelation site, by Dr Mike Fitzpatrick

http://www.soyonlineservice.co.nz/

 

Index for SOY

http://www.mercola.com/article/soy/

 

" Soy and the Thyroid "

http://thyroid.about.com/health/thyroid/library/weekly/aa083099.htm

 

Emerging dangers of soy products

" Tragedy & Hype, " by Sally Fallon and Mary Enig

http://www.nexusmagazine.com/soydangers.html

 

" Panacea or Poison? " by Don Matesz

http://www.i-a-r-t.com/articles/soyprotein.html

 

Soy is Still Bad Protein, by Glen Neilson

http://www.testosterone.net/articles/185soy.html

 

Possible Effects of Soy Infant Formula

http://www.moonlighthealth.com/library2.asp?A=36

 

Soy Alert, by Christian author Debi Pearl

http://www.nogreaterjoy.org/Articles/Oct%20Dec%202001%20Newsletter%20Soy%20

Alert%20by%20Debi%20Pearl.htm

 

Wholelistic Health Attack on Soy: The Poison Seed

http://www.totalityofbeing.com/id58.htm

 

" Don't Go Overboard With the Soy Foods, " by Dr John Lee

http://www.johnleemd.net/articles/soy-01.html

 

" From Pink Pills to Phytoestrogens, " by Award Winning Journalist Camille Guy

http://www.soyonlineservice.co.nzpink%20pills.htm

 

" The Dark Side of Soy "

http://www.businessweek.com/2000/00_51/b3712218.htm

 

" Soya Alert Over Cancer and Brain Damage Link "

http://www.observer.co.uk/international/story/0,6903,353660,00.html

 

" The Other Side of Soy "

http://www.abcnews.go.com/onair/2020/2020_000609_soy_feature.html

 

" FDA Scientists Protest Soy Approval "

http://abcnews.go.com/onair/2020/2020_000609_soyfdaletter_feature.html

 

Soy Scepticism

http://www.oxford.net/~tishy/soy.html

 

" The Downside of Soy " , By noted food writer Beatrice Trum Hunter

http://www.nutrition4health.org/NOHAnews/NNF01SoyBeatrice.htm

 

 

 

 

-- Joan McPhee, not an M.D.

mcpheej --

 

Please note new email address

and update your address book

[Guest guest]

Thank you for taking the time to put this post together. I have for

months been wondering about whether to continue including soy in my

diet, and I also have hypothyroid. I read through this, got some

questions answered, and followed some of the links. Now I can make a

better choice.

 

CheriB