Tofu may raise risk of dementia

News Type: Event — Seeded on Sat Jul 5, 2008 7:25 PM EDT

Article Source: BBC News

Eating high levels of some soy products - including tofu - may raise the risk of memory loss, research suggests. The study focused on 719 elderly Indonesians living in urban and rural regions of Java.

The researchers found high tofu consumption - at least once a day - was associated with worse memory, particularly among the over-68s.

The Loughborough University-led study features in the journal Dementias and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders.

Soy products are rich in micronutrients called phytoestrogens, which mimic the impact of the female sex hormone oestrogen. The latest study suggests phytoestrogens - in high quantity - may actually heighten the risk of dementia.

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4.9

4.2

{"commentId":2124887,"authorDomain":"PamelaDrew"}

Pamela Drew

I wonder if it is the GMO variety since biotechs have a huge presence in the Third World. Modern tofu made with magnesium and calcium chloride and gmo soy, bear little resemblance to the traditional Asian varieties. What's more the studies that launched the soy food craze in the US, were heavily skewed by the soy Board who did the studies. I won't even let my dog eat soy the stuff is so filled with chemical %$#@!!

{"commentId":2124887,"threadId":"306921","contentId":"1641594","authorDomain":"PamelaDrew"}

7 votes

#1 - Sat Jul 5, 2008 8:11 PM EDT

{"commentId":2125965,"authorDomain":"melonhead"}

urbane gorilla

Soy just isn't people food. According www.soyonlineservice.co.nz all soy, GMO or not, organic or not has many substances toxic to humans. I looks as if phytoestrogens are present regardless of the type of soy - some organic food marketers boast the phytoestrogens as help for menopause. My breast doc discourages soy consumption for patients at high risk for breast cance - me, in other words. otoh, she encourages consumption of flax meal, which has anti-estrogen properties. Interestingly, overconsumption of either soy or flax can lead to thyroid deficiencies. Moderation is a good thing.

{"commentId":2125965,"threadId":"306921","contentId":"1641594","authorDomain":"melonhead"}

2 votes

#1.1 - Sun Jul 6, 2008 12:54 AM EDT

{"commentId":2125971,"authorDomain":"timcord2"}

timcord2

i think you have hit the nail on the the head pamela, i can't see this applying to the fresh made stuff from asian countries who have survived on this for decades...surely we would have massive amounts evidence coming in from japan and china if this were true.

can't quell the cynic in me..who funded the study?

{"commentId":2125971,"threadId":"306921","contentId":"1641594","authorDomain":"timcord2"}

2 votes

#1.2 - Sun Jul 6, 2008 12:55 AM EDT

{"commentId":2124925,"authorDomain":"TeddRi"}

Tedd Riggs

I knew that nasty stuff was bad for you !

{"commentId":2124925,"threadId":"306921","contentId":"1641594","authorDomain":"TeddRi"}

5 votes

#2 - Sat Jul 5, 2008 8:19 PM EDT

{"commentId":2125209,"authorDomain":"JeanCauvin5"}

JeanCauvin5

Hey, I used to be a Tofu hater to--until I moved to China. Now I love it--Ma Po Doufu, fresh soy milk. . . it's all wonderful and delicious. On the other hand, this report does explain a great deal of my behavior lately. Or gives me something to blame, at least.

{"commentId":2125209,"threadId":"306921","contentId":"1641594","authorDomain":"JeanCauvin5"}

4 votes

#2.1 - Sat Jul 5, 2008 9:34 PM EDT

{"commentId":2125276,"authorDomain":"TeddRi"}

Tedd Riggs

Well thats not "real Tofu". A good Chinese cook can make cardboard taste great, they can do anything with food and spices, however I have never seen a American Tofu that is not just horrible looking and tasting.

{"commentId":2125276,"threadId":"306921","contentId":"1641594","authorDomain":"TeddRi"}

5 votes

#2.2 - Sat Jul 5, 2008 9:55 PM EDT

{"commentId":2125602,"authorDomain":"PamelaDrew"}

Pamela Drew

A good Chinese cook can make cardboard taste great

Isn't that the truth! Sometimes I wonder what we are really eating in Chinatown, but don't ask. :~)

{"commentId":2125602,"threadId":"306921","contentId":"1641594","authorDomain":"PamelaDrew"}

4 votes

#2.3 - Sat Jul 5, 2008 11:17 PM EDT

{"commentId":2125660,"authorDomain":"TeddRi"}

Tedd Riggs

Great Idea !!!!! don't ask. :~)

{"commentId":2125660,"threadId":"306921","contentId":"1641594","authorDomain":"TeddRi"}

3 votes

#2.4 - Sat Jul 5, 2008 11:32 PM EDT

{"commentId":2125012,"authorDomain":"Wheel"}

Wheel

Tofu, it's just for ground cover.

{"commentId":2125012,"threadId":"306921","contentId":"1641594","authorDomain":"Wheel"}

3 votes

#3 - Sat Jul 5, 2008 8:38 PM EDT

{"commentId":2125025,"authorDomain":"sherrywritepro"}

Sherry Baker

One possibility that came to mind: it has been well known that in some people, and perhaps in certain populations, eating a diet rich in soy can lead to hypothyroidism. Hypothyroidism -- voila -- can lead to memory problems and even ( reversible with treatment of the low thyroid) dementia. And it can be hard to spot. So I would have to see a comprehensive work up of the subjects and their thyroid status before I would do a 1. knee jerk reaction saying all soy is bad and 2. blame phytoestrogens at least in the context of what is presented in the article.

Sher

{"commentId":2125025,"threadId":"306921","contentId":"1641594","authorDomain":"sherrywritepro"}

2 votes

#4 - Sat Jul 5, 2008 8:44 PM EDT

{"commentId":2126130,"authorDomain":"melonhead"}

urbane gorilla

Excellent point. My sister is a nurse practicioner & had just described to me dementia-like symptoms in a patient with low thyroid. We're concerned for a family member who had totally given up dairy for soy milk & are had just discussed getting this person a thyroid function test.

Excess consumption of flax and raw cruciferous vegetables can also cause thyroid problems - excess. Moderate consumption is healthy.

{"commentId":2126130,"threadId":"306921","contentId":"1641594","authorDomain":"melonhead"}

2 votes

#4.1 - Sun Jul 6, 2008 1:55 AM EDT

{"commentId":2125107,"authorDomain":"gilemrys"}

Trog-221687

Chalk 1 up for kill 'em and grill 'em ;-)

{"commentId":2125107,"threadId":"306921","contentId":"1641594","authorDomain":"gilemrys"}

2 votes

#5 - Sat Jul 5, 2008 9:03 PM EDT

{"commentId":2125575,"authorDomain":"kokayi"}

Kokayi

With as many disasters as Indonesia suffers dementia might be a good thing.

{"commentId":2125575,"threadId":"306921","contentId":"1641594","authorDomain":"kokayi"}

3 votes

#6 - Sat Jul 5, 2008 11:10 PM EDT

{"commentId":2125953,"authorDomain":"timcord2"}

timcord2

..i think this whole story is....what was i going to say?...

{"commentId":2125953,"threadId":"306921","contentId":"1641594","authorDomain":"timcord2"}

2 votes

#7 - Sun Jul 6, 2008 12:49 AM EDT

{"commentId":2126255,"authorDomain":"winsomecowboy"}

winsomecowboy

It certainly promoted a certain type of dementia the first time I tried to use chopsticks to eat it. I'm much better now, thank you for asking.

{"commentId":2126255,"threadId":"306921","contentId":"1641594","authorDomain":"winsomecowboy"}

3 votes

#8 - Sun Jul 6, 2008 2:50 AM EDT

{"commentId":2126271,"authorDomain":"deleted"}

deleted

Tofu has been used in China more than two thousand years. East Asia has tofu shops the way we have coffee shops in the West and so according to this study, that entire country must be suffering from extreme rates dementia? Does that sound correct?

{"commentId":2126271,"threadId":"306921","contentId":"1641594","authorDomain":"deleted"}

#9 - Sun Jul 6, 2008 2:58 AM EDT

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Tofu 'may raise risk of dementia'	BBC News	Sat Jul 5	0
BBC NEWS \| Have Your Say \| Tofu 'may raise risk of dementia'	BBC News	Fri Jul 4	6
Eating soy linked to memory loss	United Press International	Sun Jul 6	2

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