Several reports describe positive effects of soybean
consumption for the prevention of various diseases, e.g.,
traditional diet based on soy may lower the risk of breast cancer
cases in Asian women.7,8 In recent years, soy and soy products
have become the subject of extensive phytochemical and
pharmacological investigations for their potential application in
the therapy of cardiovascular diseases and certain forms of
cancer.9,10 Their antioxidant activity has been also reported.
11−13 Additionally, data suggest that isoflavones, the
major phenolic compounds present in soy, protect against
postmenopausal osteoporosis associated with endogenous
estrogen deficiency.14 Isoflavones are often used as an
alternative to synthetic modulators of estrogen receptors,
which are currently applied in hormone replacement
therapy.15−17 Pharmaceutical and dietary preparations containing
soy extract are commonly used to alleviate the symptoms of
menopause and reduce the risk of diseases, whose etiology is
associated with a low level of estrogen.