Osteoporosis and ERT--The Jury is Still Out

Bone loss in women accelerates immediately after menopause, often leading to osteoporosis and an increased risk of bone fractures. In 1985,247,000 hip fractures occurred in people over 45 years of age. Among those who live to be 90, one-third of women and one-sixth of men will experience hip fractures. Six months after fracture, 25% of victims will not be able to carry out their usual activities, and 50% will need assistance to do so. Hip fractures are not only a serious cause of morbidity but they also increase the risk of mortality in older people. Because the proportion of the population over 65 will increase steadily, from 11% in 1981 to 22% in 2050, the estimated number of hip fractures will triple by the year 2050

Early Exposure to Soy Isoflavones and Effects on Reproductive Health: A Review of Human and Animal Studies

Soy isoflavones are phytoestrogens with potential hormonal activity due to their similar chemical structure to 17-β-estradiol. The increasing availability of soy isoflavones throughout the food supply and through use of supplements has prompted extensive research on biological benefits to humans in chronic disease prevention and health maintenance. While much of this research has focused on adult populations, infants fed soy protein based infant formulas are exposed to substantial levels of soy isoflavones, even when compared to adult populations that consume a higher quantity of soy-based foods. Infant exposure, through soy formula, primarily occurs from birth to one year of life, a stage of development that is particularly sensitive to dietary and environmental compounds. This has led investigators to study the potential hormonal effects of soy isoflavones on later reproductive health outcomes. Such studies have included minimal human data with the large majority of studies using animal models. This review discusses key aspects of the current human and animal studies and identifies critical areas to be investigated as there is no clear consensus in this research field