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Abstract
Human exposure to environmental estrogens has increased tremendously over the past 20 years. Estrogenic compounds are abundant in both agricultural and industrial products as well as increased consumption of nutritional supplements containing soya.Several studies, mostly in animals, denote that soy products, and specifically through phytoestrogens, have a beneficial effect on health, including breast cancer and improved metabolic parameters. However, data from human studies do not support these findings, and often contradict them, indicating that phytoestrogens could potentially be hazardous to human health.Phytoestrogens, as an endocrinal disruptor, probably have a much broader impact which goes beyond identifying the effects of one substance. One should consider the possible additive, antagonistic or synergistic activity of simultaneous exposure to various agents, as industrial contaminants and pharmaceutical estrogens, which may synergistically affect health.The physiological effects of phytoestrogens have created a market that has been utilized by the food industry as a cheap ingredient in an array of products. The public perceives soy as a natural product and hence has a positive attitude towards it and is unaware of the potential cellular and molecular targets common with synthetic EDCs, which have been proved to be of concern. Future efforts in the study of phytoestrogens need more focus on timing, frequency and duration of exposure to these compounds. Studies undertaken in uncontrolled situations or done retrospectively should be replaced with prospective controlled studies. Until the effect of soy is thoroughly investigated, soy should be