
Introduction
It is well recognised that there is a lower incidence of certain cancers, such as breast and prostate cancer, in populations consuming soy as a regular part of the diet
1 ,
2 . The risk of developing breast cancer in Japanese women is four to five times lower than in Western women
1 , and the incidence of prostate cancer is four to tenfold lower in men from certain Asian countries compared to Western men
3 .
Population studies in Asia have found that the consumption of soy foods is correlated with a decreased incidence of various cancers including breast
4 ,
5 , prostate
6 ,
7 , lung
8 , stomach
9 ,
10 , endometrium
11 and colorectal cancer
12 ,
13 . In one American study, consuming soy drinks on two or more occasions per day was linked with up to a 70% reduction in prostate cancer risk among Seventh-day Adventist males
14 .
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