Question: What is your opinion on feeding male infants soy formula? What is the best formula for male infants who have been recommended soy because of chronic "spitting up"?


Dr. Brownstein's Answer:

I do not recommend soy infant formula for any child. But my warning holds especially true for boys. Two forms of soy products are available: non-fermented and fermented. In the United States we generally eat non-fermented soy. This is the soy in soy milk, hot dogs, cheese, burgers, etc. The Japanese eat fermented soy, such as in miso and tempeh.

Non-fermented soy contains chemicals (phytic acid) which block mineral absorption. Soy protein isolate, which is found in most soy foods mentioned above, contains aluminum, nitrates, and MSG.

Studies show ingestion of non-fermented soy products can deplete the body of vitamins D, E, K, and B12, and rob you of minerals. There is concern that soy consumption can have estrogenic effects as well as promote the formation of goiters.

My clinical experience has been that my patients who ingest soy more often exhibit thyroid problems.