Latest from Food Politics: Industry-funded study of the week: soy

I haven’t done one of these in a while.   This one is especially timely with all the fuss going on about the supposed toxicity of seed oils, soy among them.   To be clear: I do not see convincing evidence for this contention. Still, it makes soy ...

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by Marion Nestle   June 23 2025 Industry-funded study of the week: soy I haven’t done one of these in a while.  This one is especially timely with all the fuss going on about the supposed toxicity of seed oils, soy among them.  To be clear: I do not see convincing evidence for this contention. Still, it makes soy producers want to demonstrate that eating soy poses no health problems.  Hence, this study. Effect of Soy Isoflavones on Measures of Estrogenicity: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.  Gabrielle Viscardi, Songhee Back, Amna Ahmed, Shuting Yang, Sonia Blanco Mejia, Andreea Zurbau, Tauseef A Khan, Amanda Selk, Mark Messina, Cyril WC Kendall, David JA Jenkins, John L Sievenpiper, Laura Chiavaroli.  Advances in Nutrition, Volume 16, Issue 1, 2025, 100327, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.advnut.2024.100327. The abstract begins: Despite recommendations to increase plant food consumption for public and planetary health and the role that soy foods can play in plant-predominant diets, controversies around the effects of soy foods, especially soy isoflavones, are a barrier to their intake. Given their cardioprotective effects and ability to alleviate menopausal symptoms, addressing these concerns is particularly relevant to women…This systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials aimed to determine the effect of soy isoflavones on measures of estrogenicity in postmenopausal women. Conclusion: “Current evidence suggests that soy isoflavones do not exhibit estrogenic effects compared with non-isoflavone controls on 4 measures of estrogenicity in postmenopausal women.” Funding: “This work was supported by the United Soybean Board (the United States Department of Agriculture soy check-off program)….” Conflicts of interest:  Oh dear.  It’s hard to know where to begin, as the lists go on and on and on.  One of the authors “is the Director of Nutrition Science and Research at the Soy Nutrition Institute Global, an organization that receives partial funding from the principal funder, the United Soybean Board (USB).”  Others report financial ties to Soy Foods Association of North America, the Soy Nutrition Institute, and the United Soybean Board. Comment.  Some of the authors on this review appear highly conflicted.  What is especially troubling is their apparent mocking of the concept of conflicted interests and conflating of personal views (which all researchers have, but these vary) with financial ties (which are discretionary and almost invariably produce results favorable to the sponsor’s interests).   Authors on this paper report as conflicts such things as awards, funding from professional societies, unpaid work for professional societies, vegan dietary preferences, and activities of their spouses and children—none of which are in the same category as financial ties to industries with direct interests in research outcome.  I don’t think this kind of conflicted research helps the soybean cause. The post Industry-funded study of the week: soy appeared first on Food Politics by Marion Nestle More Recent Articles Weekend viewing: My Hopkins' Graduation Address The latest on plant-based foods: a round-up The latest food safety scandal: Salmonella in eggs—again MAHA: the research agenda revealed Industry funded continuing education for dietitians: Beef This message was sent to edwardlorilla2007.tower@blogger.com. Manage your subscription here. Marion Nestle, Department of Nutrition and Food Studies, NYU, 411 Lafayette, 5th Floor, New York, NY 10003-7035, United States marion.nestle@nyu.edu Safely Unsubscribe • Archives • Preferences • Contact • Subscribe • Privacy

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