Women consuming the most soy products have a lower risk of breast cancer recurrence, according to a new study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal. Researchers observed the amounts of soy isoflavones consumed by 524 women with breast cancer. Postmenopausal women who ate more than 42.3 milligrams of soy isoflavones daily had a 33 percent decreased risk of recurrence, compared with women who ate less than 15.2 milligrams per day. Sources of soy isoflavones included soy milk, tofu, and edamame. Eight ounces of soymilk contains roughly 20 milligrams of soy isoflavones.

Kang X, Zhang Q, Wang S, Huang X, Jin S. Effect of soy isoflavones on breast cancer recurrence and death for patients receiving adjuvant endocrine therapy. CMAJ. Published ahead of print October 18, 2010: doi:10.1503/cmaj.091298.

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