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Dietary intake of soybean protein and menstrual cycle length in pre-menopausal Singapore Chinese women

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 September 2007

Rupert W Jakes ,
Lynn Alexander ,
Stephen W Duffy ,
Joy Leong ,
Lin Han Chen  and
Wei Hong Lee
Rupert W Jakes*
Affiliation:
NMRC Clinical Trials & Epidemiology Research Unit, Ministry of Health, 10 College Road, Singapore 169851, Singapore
Lynn Alexander
Affiliation:
KK Hospital, 100 Bukit Timah Road, Singapore 229899, Singapore
Stephen W Duffy
Affiliation:
MRC Biostatistics Unit, Institute of Public Health, University Forvie Site, Cambridge CB2 2SR, UK
Joy Leong
Affiliation:
NMRC Clinical Trials & Epidemiology Research Unit, Ministry of Health, 10 College Road, Singapore 169851, Singapore
Lin Han Chen
Affiliation:
KK Hospital, 100 Bukit Timah Road, Singapore 229899, Singapore
Wei Hong Lee
Affiliation:
KK Hospital, 100 Bukit Timah Road, Singapore 229899, Singapore
*
*Corresponding author: Email rj205@medschl.cam.ac.uk
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Abstract

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Background

Intake of soybean protein was associated with a reduced risk of breast cancer in a case–control study. It has also been demonstrated to increase menstrual cycle length in an experimental setting.

Objective

To ascertain whether the association of soybean protein intakes with menstrual cycle length persists in an uncontrolled community setting.

Design

Cross-sectional food frequency dietary survey, menstrual cycle survey and prospective collection of menstrual cycle data.

Setting

A hospital clinic and a nursing college.

Subjects

Two hundred menstruating women.

Results

An association (P=0.034) of higher intakes of soybean protein with increased menstrual cycle length, as recorded by self report and by prospectively recording three consecutive cycles, was observed. The risk of menstrual cycle length being greater than the median, when comparing the upper quartile (8.7–35.2 g day−1) of soybean intake and the lowest quartile (0.1–3.3 g day−1) was double, and this approached statistical significance (OR=2.02, 95% CI=0.88−4.64 and OR=1.93, 95% CI=0.82−4.56 for self-reported cycle length and cycle length as recorded by diary, respectively). In terms of the absolute association with cycle length, subjects in the upper quartile of soybean intake demonstrated a cycle length 1–2 days longer than did subjects in the lowest quartile.

Conclusions

It is likely that the association between dietary intake of soybean protein and length of menstrual cycle prevails in the community setting. This is shown using both self-reported cycle length and cycle length as recorded in a prospective diary.

Keywords

Phyto-oestrogensSoybean proteinMenstrual cycle lengthBreast cancer risk
Type
Research Article
Information
Public Health Nutrition , Volume 4 , Issue 2 , April 2001 , pp. 191 - 196
Copyright
Copyright © CABI Publishing 2001

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