Soy vs. Cow's Milk-Based Formula

[daisybaby]

Our lactation consultant disseminated an article that pretty much stated that soy formula was the absolute worst, most unsafe thing you could give a baby. I can't recall where the article came from, except to say that it was not from a journal. Basically the article stated that soy formulas were linked to infertility, early puberty, allergies, and a whole lot of other ominous-sounding things. The text of the article sounded quite inflamatory, really. (Said article was 'required reading' for all staff on the unit).

I turned to the American Association of Pediatricians web site, and according to their policy statement, while breast milk is recognized as the best form of nutrition for infants, soy-based formulas are safe and appropriate for infants >1800g when formula feeding is indicated.

Are soy-based formulas as dangerous as our LC's article says? I'm having a hard time understanding this concept. If it were true, why would the AAP policy statement say that soy is ok? I really want to understand the whole soy vs cow's milk based formula debate. Can anyone point me to where I can research this more diligently?

[Gompers, BSN, RN]

Can we please not turn this into another breastmilk vs. formula debate? We're specifically talking about issues with soy formula here, no one ever mentioned breastmilk. For the hundreth time, we KNOW that breastmilk is better than formula. But that's not the topic here, soy is.

[daisybaby, LPN]

Thanks for the re-direct, Gompers.

I've done a pretty good search and still can't find any scholarly publication that says soy formula is as terrible as our LC's article contends. I'm sticking to my initial hunch that it is perhaps an attempt at scaring parents away from any kind of formula whatsoever.

[luvmy2angels]

I can only say from personal experience that if it weren't for soy milk neither of my children would be here! I couldn't breast feed and both of my children had terrible allergies to cows milk. Soy was heaven sent for us! Both me and my hubby have a lot of food allergies in the family. I had to be on goats milk as a baby!

[GooeyRN, ADN, BSN, CNA, LPN, RN]

I believe that formula may cause some problems later or side effects early on (for some, not all of course), but formula causing homosexuality and sociopathy? I don't think so! But that is just my opinion...

[NaomieRN]

The best milk is Goat milk because it is the closest to breastmilk, soymilk is the second best.

[RNnL&D]

Soy formula wouldn't be on the market if it was unsafe.

Many things are on the market, that are not necessarily safe. Unfortunately, adequate research is not always done before something is "approved". Soy formula has been used for 40years, but where is the research?

That said, I have read some articles concerning the risks of over using soy, both in adults and infants. I remember articles mentioning infertility, particularly in boys who were on soy formula, breast cancer in women, among other things. The concern is the natural chemicals in soy that mimic estrogen. Not to mention, pesticide use on the actual soy crop. There is also an increase risk for allergies, especially if baby is already showing sign of milk allergy.

But then, you have the concern about antibiotic and growth hormone use in cows. I think each parent needs to research the risks and benefits and decide for themselves.

For the poster who asked about alternatives, those would be lacto free formulas for the truly lactose intolerant, or hypo allergenic formulas for true allergies.

[Gompers, BSN, RN]

Many things are on the market, that are not necessarily safe. Unfortunately, adequate research is not always done before something is "approved". Soy formula has been used for 40years, but where is the research?

We're all going to die from SOMETHING eventually. Just living in certain cities is toxic to our bodies. We eat and drink lots of things with lots of different chemicals in them. I'm sure that someday we'll be reduced to eating raw organic vegetables, and nothing else, because eventually there will be research linking EVERYTHING to SOME disease.

What I do know for darn sure is that when I was a baby, projectile vomiting and stooling blood, soy formula saved my life. So I'm not willing to just completely write it off just yet.

[RNnL&D]

What I do know for darn sure is that when I was a baby, projectile vomiting and stooling blood, soy formula saved my life. So I'm not willing to just completely write it off just yet.

While I am glad that you survived on soy milk, as I'm sure many others did, I think the OP was asking if anyone had read of the risks associated with soy formula.

Yes, we're all going to die of something eventually, and most things we ingest, inhale, inject have some sort of risks. However, some people like to be informed and decide whether the benefits outweigh the risks. Or, if the risk just isn't worth taking. I think it is for these people, that the research should be available.

So did we ever find out, do red M&M's cause cancer?

[RNnL&D]

Are soy-based formulas as dangerous as our LC's article says? I'm having a hard time understanding this concept. If it were true, why would the AAP policy statement say that soy is ok?

It's a matter of risks versus benefits. Vaccines provide an obvious benefit, so they are endorsed by the AAP. They doesn't mean they are without risk.

So if you're baby is a healthy, term infant with a true milk allergy and is unable to breastfeed, then yes, according to the AAP, the benefits of soy outweigh the risks.

[NaomieRN]

Sometimes the Wholemilk Companies (Garelick) will pay for a research against the Soy Milk, so they wont lose money.

[carolinapooh, BSN, RN]

My neighbor (who has a family history of dairy allergies and did not wish to BF due to a job that brings her in contact with toxic chemicals) was told by someone at her hospital (LC, nurse, tech??) that she should not consider soy since it can cause homosexuality! They were a little taken aback by her abrupness, startling info, and the judgemental tone, as if that was the worst outcome possible for their daughter, (dad said... then I'll have two daughters, LOL)

This got me researching a little, and yes, there is a possible link to early puberty, generally concerns that the amt of phytoestrogens is variable but can be more than a perimenopausal woman would supplement with.

Gotta wonder though, how much of the hormones given to cows pass through to formula, too? Not sure that couldn't be linked to same problems?

See, I'm all about that whole rBGH debate. I'm totally against that stuff. I'm not a raging freak about it, but personally, if I ever have a kid, and I can't BF for whatever reason, whatever formula it gets will be either certified organic or mixed with certified organic milk at the least. It's not that much more expensive than regular milk (which, as anyone can tell you, is going for MENTAL money lately) and I sure would feel better. We didn't eat that stuff when I was a kid, and we didn't have problems like we have now. What if it's NOT "lactose intolerance" per se - but some type of reaction with the chemicals we're shooting everything up with? I cannot remember ever meeting a kid when I was little with a peanut allergy or a milk allergy or gluten allergy, and yet my sister cannot send BROWNIES to her daughter's class because of all the allergies these kids have. Why aren't they looking at that?

I also won't be eating non-organic beef when I'm pregnant. Sorry - it's just one of my "things".

And I have a problem with chickens and antibiotics, at least for little kids and pregnant folks. But that's another post.

[mmurphy]

It is very rare that someone is physically unable to breastfeed. We are a disturbed culture that encourages women to feel uncomfortable with nursing their babies. Formula is a necessity for RARE instances, and should be available, however these ridiculous excuses such as "I work around toxic chemicals" should not be accepted.

I've tasted bits of formula here and there at work - since we use so many and they all smell bad, I was curious!

My nephew ate Carnation Good Starts for his first year. The kid never spat up, rarely had gas, and was generally a very happy baby that slept like a log at night from the time he was a few months old. They ain't kidding about those "comfort proteins" that are more broken down! It didn't smell bad at all, and while it wasn't delicious, I could easily drink it without gagging.

It will be my formula of choice when I have babies. They even use it in our NICU and Peds home care - they use after the kids are well enough to not need the very expensive elemental formulas (Neocate, Pregestamil, Elecare) anymore.