[ad_1]
According to researchers, consumption of soy-based preparations during infancy could be linked to severe menstrual pain in adulthood.
A study published in Human Reproduction included 1,553 African American women aged 23 to 35, with information on soymilk food collected through questionnaires. To determine menstrual pain, they asked women whether they had ever taken prescription or over-the-counter medications to prevent menstrual cramps or pelvic pain.
About 13% of women reported having been fed soy milk at an early age. They were significantly more likely than those who had not been fed soymilk to have used hormonal contraception to relieve their menstrual pain, especially during the first five years following menarche.
The precise mechanism is unknown, but soy contains phytoestrogens that, according to animal studies, have an impact on uterine development and uterine function in the adult.
The study was based on recalling subjects and there was no data on the reasons for artificial feeding or solid foods during early childhood. Lead author, Kristen Upson, a researcher at the National Institutes of Health, said the observational study revealed an association, not a cause and an effect.
Nevertheless, she added, menstrual pain is common and "our findings underscore the need for a better understanding of exposure, even those that occur earlier in life."
Source link
