But there is no reason to believe soy s effects will wear off. That s enough for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to now allow manufacturers to put heart-health claims on soy products. Well, hold on. The whole soybean is superior to isoflavone supplements for reducing cholesterol, Seibel said. The FDA based its decision on soy protein, not isoflavones.
Research is mixed on whether soy can stave off bone loss and osteoporosis.
Seibel told his physician audience of 150 to soon expect a half-dozen studies looking at soy and bone that could settle this point. Appropriately enough, given Sunday s holiday, he made his mother part of the answer. She went off her estrogen-replacement therapy and was miserable. I put her on isoflavones and it helped. Seibel said eating whole soy foods is a woman s best strategy for the menopausal years, starting in her 40s.