NUTRITION STUDIES
& SCIENTIFIC LITERATURE
SOYA INFANT FORMULA


SOY-BASED FORMULAS & PHYTOESTROGENS

Soy-based infant formulas have caused much controversy among plant-based families and healthcare professionals alike. NHS guidelines with concerns for phytoestrogens have led to many healthcare professionals advising against it’s use. This puts a huge amount of unnecessary pressure on parents to breastfeed/chestfeed without a suitable alternative that aligns with their health choices, their ethics, as well as their healthcare professional’s advice. Many parents will use soy-based formulas whilst doubting their decision, while other parents will resort to dairy formula as a “medical necessity” following the advice of their health professional.

“Soya formula milks have been used for over a century, are safe and have shown to promote growth and development comparable to that of breastfed babies or babies fed cow’s milk formula.”
— Plant-Based Health Professionals


Please see below for scientific literature to support this.

  • Published in the British Journal of Nutririon in 2014, this systematic study and metanalysis looked at thirty-five articles that assessed the safety of soy milk formula in children.

    Closing Paragraph:

    “This evidence analysis led us to establish that there is no significant effect of soya on important reproductive functions in human beings. The AAP has emphasised that literature reviews and clinical studies of infants fed SIF raise no clinical concerns with respect to nutritional adequacy, sexual development, thyroid disease, immune function or neurodevelopment. Additional studies confirm that SIF do not interfere with normal immune responses.”

    Click Here to read the full review.

  • A retrospective cohort study conducted in 1999 (USA):

    Participants from controlled milk studies that took place during 1965-1978 (when they were infants), were recalled as adults (between 20-34 years old) for this study. 248 had been given soy-based formula and 563 cow’s milk formula during infancy.

    Conclusion:

    “Exposure to soy formula does not appear to lead to different general health or reproductive outcomes than exposure to cow milk formula.”

    Click Here to read the full publication.