Soy Food and Soy Isoflavone Consumption Associated to Semen Quality

30/10/07 Isoflavones are plant derived polyphenoloic compounds with weak estrogenic activity found mainly in soybeans and soy-derived products. High isoflavone intake has been reported to be associated with decreased animal fertility. The impact of high isoflavone intake on human fertility is unknown. This Cross-sectional study assesses isoflavone intake in males of sub fertile couples who had semen analyses. The questionnaire was designed to assess intake of 15 soy-based foods in the last three months was collected.

100 men with semen data and completed questionnaires were studied. There was an inverse association between soy food intake and sperm concentration that remained significant when evaluated with respect to age, abstinence, body mass, and caffeine, each of tobacco intake. There was no impact on sperm motility of morphology.