New soy cancer warning

Too much not a good thing

Soy can have a marginal impact in lowering breast and prostrate cancer, but soy supplements should be avoided by cancer patients says the NSW Cancer Council.

In a new report the Council details the known risks and benefits of soy and soy supplements and finds that despite lower rates of breast and prostrate cancer in Asian countries, it is unclear if this is associated with a higher soy intake.

Animal and lab test have confirmed that soy has an anti cancer affect, but only for breast and prostrate cancer and only a little, says the cancer council's new fact sheet released yesterday.

But there the lack of clinical trials on the impact of soy supplements on cancer patients saw the Council recommend against them and instead suggest a more conservative approach.

"The best advice is to eat soy foods in moderation as part of an overall healthy eating pattern, and not to suddenly increase the amount of soy phytoestrogens in the diet," says the Council