Does drinking soy milk cause prostate cancer?
Is there any evidence that drinking soy milk causes prostate cancer? —G.D.T., Columbia, S.C. Not according to a vast majority of studies. While a 2007 analysis suggested that some soy products might increase the risk of advanced prostate cancer, most studies have concluded that moderate consumption of soy doesn’t increase prostate-cancer risk—and may actually lower it. That might be due to soy’s high concentration of isoflavones, plant chemicals that behave similarly to the hormone estrogen. One isoflavone, genistein, inhibited the growth of prostate cancer cells in testtube studies, though it’s too early to say whether it does the same thing in men. So you can continue to include soy milk in your diet without concern. Find out why you should add more soy to your diet and take a look at some factors that can likely increase your risk of prostate cancer, including being older and eating a lot of red meat.
