Background: In the Nordic countries, consumption of plant-based foods is increasing, and many of these items contain soy. Soy-based goods that resemble minced meat, for example, are advertised as meat substitutes, and numerous soy-based milk alternatives are being used to replace cow’s milk. An increase in the number of people who identify as vegetarians or vegans can be partly blamed for the growing interest in such items. Increased consumption of soy-based products as a milk and meat substitute may be helpful to health, however detrimental health impacts in specific population groups are a worry. Soy’s natural content of estrogen-like compounds (for example, isoflavones) raises concerns about endocrine disruption in youngsters and unborn children (i.e. pregnant women).
The following were the project’s goals:
1) Look at the information on soy consumption that is available.
2) Develop intake scenarios for children and pregnant women from Nordic countries where soy use is prevalent.
3) Calculate the nutritional impact of replacing animal-derived items with soy-based products.
4) Determine whether isoflavones have health-based guideline values (HBGVs) for children and women of reproductive age.
Methods: To investigate the impact of soy-based goods on dietary intake and nutrition, a dietary exposure scenario was created in which animal products were substantially replaced with soy-based products in the diets of Danish women (ages 18-45 years) and children (ages 4-10 years). The Danish National Survey of Diet and Physical Activity 2011-2013 (DANSDA) served as the foundation for these estimates. DANSDA is a statewide cross-sectional survey that evaluates the Danish population’s diet and physical activity. Furthermore, dietary exposure to isoflavones from such a high-soy-substituted diet was calculated using newly released data on isoflavone content in various foods. An analysis of animal and human research related to a risk assessment of isoflavones (genistein, daidzein, and glycitein) was carried out using five different databases.
The intake of soy was higher in children than in women under the scenario of a considerable soy-substituted diet, owing to children’s higher consumption of milk products. Soy was sourced from replaced dairy products for about 60% of the total soy intake (milk and cream products). Women and children’s calorie, protein, carbohydrate, and fat intakes only varied somewhat, but their intake of various micronutrients changed as well. Vitamin A, riboflavin, and vitamin B12 intake decreased by 20% or more in both women and children, but vitamin E intake increased by more than 20%. Calcium and iodine intake declined by 20% or more in children, whereas magnesium intake climbed. This, however, had little bearing on the degree to which required micronutrient consumption levels were met, as intake was near or above recommended levels for most substances, with the exception of vitamin D and iron, which were inadequate regardless of substitute.
The predicted genistein exposure for women, 0.09-0.2 mg/kg bw per day for girls, and 0.1-0.2 mg/kg bw per day for boys in this scenario with significant soy substitution varied between 0.04-0.06 mg/kg bw per day. For all groups, estimated daidzein exposure was comparable to genistein exposure, but estimated glycitein exposure was much lower. The overall estimated isoflavone exposure (the sum of genistein, daidzein, and glycitein) per day for women, 0.1-0.3 mg/kg bw per day for girls, and 0.2-0.4 mg/kg bw per day for boys was 0.05-0.1 mg/kg bw per day.
In the search for human and experimental animal toxicity data on soy and soy components, a total of 6,304 references were discovered. The hazard identification and characterization includes five animal research, 23 human studies, and three review papers after they were assessed for relevance. The timing of puberty, breast cancer, hypospadias, and thyroid function were all found as key outcomes in the human trials. With the inclusion of fertility and signs of poor reproductive development, these endpoints were also discovered in animal research.
In the human investigations, there was no evidence of a crucial effect of isoflavones on children or pregnant women (unborn children) among the four outcomes. For genistein exposure in infants and pregnant women, two animal studies were deemed suitable for generating an HGBV. The results of a multi-generational rat study were utilised to derive the HBGV for genistein exposure in pregnant women (0.09 mg/kg bw per day, or 6.3 mg per day for a 70 kg person). For HBGV genistein derivation for children (0.07 mg/kg bw per day, or 2.1 mg per day for a child weighing 30 kg), a study on post-weaning exposure of mice was employed. Puberty timing and early mammary development were key consequences for both HBGVs.
Conclusions: All of the project’s objectives were accomplished:
By analysing data from a dietary survey and performing research on accessible soy-based goods on the Danish market, the available data on soy consumption among the general population in Denmark was investigated.
Soy intake in women and children with a high soy diet was calculated using food replacement scenarios where soy-containing goods might actually be substituted. Because children consume more milk products, their soy consumption is higher than that of women.
When animal-based goods were replaced with soy-based versions, no negative nutritional effects on macro- or micronutrients were found.
For infants and pregnant women, an HGBV might be determined for genistein. There are no concerns for pregnant women based on projected genistein intake from a significant soy-substituted diet (unborn children). However, the HGBV for genistein is significantly exceeded in girls and boys (ages 4 to 10) after consuming a soy-substituted diet, indicating a potential health hazard for youngsters who consume a significant amount of soy.
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