Toxic Chemicals and Soy

Medscape reports on an interesting study published in the January 27 edition of the Journal of Clinical endocrinology & Metabolism. They found that consuming low to moderate levels of soy could protect against some of the detrimental effects of bisphenol A (BPA), and endocrine disruptor, on women's fertility. BPA is found everywhere--so much so that it has been found in breast milk, and 90% of people have it in their urine. It is used on plastics, and we find plastics everywhere, including the linings of cans. In women trying to get pregnant, the higher the urinary level of BPA, the less likely the fertility treatment will work. Several mechanisms have been proposed, but this whole area still needs to be explored in more depth. However, in women who consumed low to moderate levels of soy, BPA did not seem to have this impact. In general, I recommend that women consume organic soy and not commercial soy because of the levels of pesticides in commercial soy.