Center Studies
The BEAN Study
Principal Investigator: Gertraud Maskarinec, MD, PhD

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Looking at the Role of Soy In Lowering Breast Cancer Risk
Phone: (808) 586-2997
Email: bean@crch.hawaii.edu
Project Coordinator: Vickie Ramirez,
Research Nutritionist: Yukiko Morimoto
Junior Research Nutritionist: Shana Suzuki

 

The BEAN Study is a dietary intervention trial based on research suggesting a protective effect of soy foods against breast cancer. This study is being conducted by the Cancer Research Center of Hawai‘i and is supported by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) .

Soy & Breast Cancer
Breast Cancer is considerably lower in Japan and China than in Western countries. One possible explanation may be that the high consumption of soy products protects Asian women against breast cancer.

Breast cancer risk is the result of genetic factors, family history, childbearing practices, and eating habits. While most breast cancer risks cannot be modified, exploring the role of diet may result in a feasible prevention strategy. In this study, soy will be introduced into the diets of premenopausal women in amounts comparable to traditional Asian diets.

Soy foods may have a protective effect against breast cancer because of components called isoflavones. Isoflavones may lower estrogen levels in the body and reduce the density of breasts, both possible indicators of breast cancer risk. Therefore, isoflavones may have a role in preventing breast cancer.

The Study
Breast, Estrogens, And Nutrition
The BEAN Study is a 13-month nutritional intervention study among healthy women looking at the role of soy in lowering breast cancer risk. During the course of the study, subjects will donate urine, blood, and breast fluid samples for hormonal analyses.

The study consists of two 6-month diet periods. During the high soy diet, participants consume 2 servings of soy foods a day. During the low soy diet, the subjects will be asked to limit their soy intake to more than three servings a week. Participants will be randomly selected to start in either the high or the low soy phase, but all women will participate in both phases.

Both groups will receive individualized nutritional counseling to maintain a healthy diet as recommended by the American Dietetic Association. Women in the high soy group will be provided with soy foods, such as tofu, soy nuts, soy trail mix, and soy milk. Recipes will also help participants to prepare a tasty variety of foods. Women in the low soy group will receive monthly gift cards to local grocery stores.

Health Benefits
Eating soy foods is considered beneficial because soy may protect against heart disease, osteoporosis, breast and other cancers, and also lower cholesterol levels.

 

Contact Information
The Cancer Research Center of Hawai‘i
University of Hawai‘i
The BEAN Study
1236 Lauhala Street, Suite 507
Honolulu, HI 96813
Phone: (808) 586-2997
Email: bean@crch.hawaii.edu

 

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