Independent NIH Panel to Evaluate Human Reproductive Safety of Genistein & Soy Formula
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is holding a 2.5 day meeting of 14 scientific experts on the potential human reproductive effects of the phyotestrogen genistein and/or soy formula. The meeting is open to the public and will be held this week, starting Wed. Mar 15, 2006 at the Radisson Hotel Old Town in Alexandria, VA.
Details are available at http://www.nih.gov/news/pr/mar2006/niehs-08a.htm or in the information posed below.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH
NIH News
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS)
http://www.niehs.nih.gov/
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday, March 8, 2006
CONTACT: Robin Mackar, 919-541-0073, rmackar@niehs.nih.gov
News Advisory
INDEPENDENT PANEL TO EVALUATE WHETHER GENISTEIN OR SOY FORMULA IS
HAZARDOUS TO HUMAN DEVELOPMENT OR REPRODUCTION
WHAT:
An independent panel of 14 scientists convened by the Center for the
Evaluation of Risks to Human Reproduction (CERHR), of the NIEHS and
National Toxicology Program, will review recent scientific data and
reach conclusions regarding whether or not exposure to genistein or soy
formula is hazardous to human development or reproduction. The 2.5 day
meeting is open to members of the public and the media. A press
availability period will immediately follow the meeting at approximately
noon on Friday, March 17.
WHEN:
Wednesday, March 15, 2006, 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Thursday, March 16, 2006, 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Friday, March 17, 2006, 8:30 a.m.- noon
Press Availability: Friday, March 17, 2006 approximately 12-1p.m.
WHERE:
Jefferson Ballroom
Radisson Hotel Old Town
901 N. Fairfax Street,
Alexandria, VA 22314-1501, USA
Tel: (703) 683-6000
Fax: (703) 683-7597
http://www.radisson.com/alexandriava
WHY:
Exposure to genistein continues to rise in the United States with
estimated soy sales in 2003 approaching $4 billion.* A form of genistein
is a primary, naturally occurring estrogen in soybeans (estrogenic
chemicals in plants are called phytoestrogens) and can mimic the effects
of estrogen in the body. Genistein can be found in foods containing soy
such as soy-based infant formulas, tofu, soy milk, soy flour, textured
soy protein, tempeh, and miso, as well as over-the-counter dietary
supplements. Soy-infant formulas are widely used. It is estimated that
10-20 percent of infants in the United States are fed soy formula.**,
*** It is often administered to infants as a supplement or replacement
for maternal breast milk or cow's milk.
Soy products are often promoted as a natural, safe way to achieve at
least some of the benefits of hormone replacement therapy in adults, but
there is growing public concern about the long-term effects of consuming
soy. There is a need to look at available evidence from reproductive and
developmental animal and human toxicity studies, as well as exposure
data from infants and women of reproductive age, to determine if
phytoestrogens in soy infant formulas adversely affect human growth,
development, or reproduction. The draft report on genistein is available
for review at
http://cerhr.niehs.nih.gov/chemicals/genistein-soy/genistein/Genistein_Report_FR.pdf. The soy formula draft report is at
http://cerhr.niehs.nih.gov/chemicals/genistein-soy/soyformula/Soy-report-FR.pdf.
BACKGROUND:
The Center for the Evaluation of Risks to Human Reproduction (CERHR) was
established by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
(NIEHS) as part of the National Toxicology Program in 1998. CERHR
convenes a scientific expert panel that meets in a public forum to
review, discuss, and evaluate the scientific literature on a selected
chemical. CERHR selects chemicals for evaluation based upon several
factors including production volume, extent of human exposure, public
concern, and the extent of published information on reproductive or
developmental toxicity. The NTP is an HHS program established in 1978
that is headquartered at the NIEHS, a part of the National Institutes of
Health. The NIEHS Director, Dr. David A. Schwartz, serves as the NTP
Director.
REGISTRATION:
No registration is required. Members of the press interested in
attending or conducting on-site or phone interviews with any of the
scientists, please contact Robin Mackar at (919) 541-0073 or by email at
rmackar@niehs.nih.gov. She will schedule interviews for the press
availability period immediately following the meeting. Details about the
meeting, including panelists and agenda, are posted on the NTP website
http://cerhr.niehs.nih.gov/news/fedreg/fr12-16-2005.pdf.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) -- "The Nation's Medical
Research Agency" -- includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a
component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. It is the
primary federal agency for conducting and supporting basic, clinical and
translational medical research, and it investigates the causes,
treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more
information about NIH and its programs, visit http://www.nih.gov.
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* Soyfoods-Association-of-North-America. Soyfood Sales & Trends.
Available at http://www.soyfoods.org/press/FAQ_sales.htm. Soyfoods
Association of North America. 2003.
** Essex, C. Phytoestrogens and Soy Based Infant Formula: Risks Remain
Theoretical. "British Medical Journal" 1996; 313: 507-508.
*** Strom, B. L., Schinnar, R., Ziegler, E. E., Barnhart, K. T., Sammel,
M. D., Macones, G. A., Stallings, V. A., Drulis, J. M., Nelson, S. E.
and Hanson, S. A. Exposure to soy-based formula in infancy and
endocrinological and reproductive outcomes in young adulthood. "Jama"
2001; 286: 807-14.
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