Eating Soy Products Reduces COPD Risks, New Study Finds

A diet that is rich in soy products gives people better lung functioning and reduces the risks of developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a new Australian study has found.

COPD is a lung disease that makes it difficult to breathe and worsens over time. Smoking is a leading cause of COPD, accounting for nearly 90 percent of such cases, but prolonged exposure to chemical fumes, air pollution, and other types of toxic exposure may also result in the disease. At least 12 million Americans are currently diagnosed with COPD but millions more may have the disease and not know it.

COPD encompasses the lung diseases chronic bronchitis and emphysema.

Drugs commonly used to treat COPD, including Advair and Symbicort, have been linked to severe complications in users, including increased risks of heart attack and stroke.

Researchers from Curtin University of Technology in Australia studied 300 people with COPD who were being treated at six Japanese hospitals and 340 people without the disease. The test subjects were polled about their intake of soy products.

The result was that tofu, soybean curd, miso soup, soy milk, and other foods rich in soy were associated improved lung functioning and a reduction in the risk of COPD.

Researchers said components in soy products called flavonoids appear to be the reason for the beneficial effects.

“It has been suggested that flavonoids from soy foods act as an anti-inflammatory agent in the lung, and can protect against tobacco carcinogens for smokers,” said Dr. Fumi Hirayama. “However, further research is needed to understand the underlying biological mechanism.”

No related posts.