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Soy Goitroges
Many plant foods contain flavone or other
compounds which possess goitrogenic activity. Thiocyanate is a
thyroid-toxic compound found in the Brassicae plants cauliflower,
cabbage, kale, rutabaga, kohrabi, brussels sprouts, Cruciferae plants
such as broccoli, as well as tropical plants such as cassava, lima
beans, linseed, bamboo shoots and sweet potatoes. Additionally,
peaches and strawberries, tea, buckwheat, flax, licorice, oregano,
marjoram, cacao, fenugreek and corn, millet as well as soy contain
goitrogens. Millet is a critical staple food in parts of India, which
contains glucosylvitexin, glycosylorientin and vitexin, three flavone
compounds which may cause hypothyroidism via inhibition of thyroid
peroxidase (TPO) with chronic intakes. Many high-value food-flavone
compounds such as fisetin, kaempferol, naringenin, myricetin, naringin,
genistein, daidzein, and glycitein with enticing links to disease
prevention and treatment are inhibitors of TPO. Idiosyncratic TPO
inhibition by these phytochemicals are dose related and may
accumulate. As opposed to a varied affluent diet, wherever a high
level of chronic single source food dependence exists, such as in
emerging populations beset with poverty, and even infant and enteral
formulas, it is prudent to abrogate goitrogenic effect via variation
and processing inasmuch as is possible. Isoflavones can be reduced
via ethanol solubilization to err on the side of caution in the
production of infant and enteral formulas.
Some animal studies
link high isoflavone intake with
hypothyroidism caused by TPO inhibition. Iodine has been added to
soy-based formulas since the 1960's, however and there have been no
reports of hypothyroidism in formula-fed infants since, nor in recent
clinical trials on pre- and post-menopausal women with sufficient
iodine intakes, nor do isoflavones result in clinically significant
changes in circulating thyroid hormone levels. A
retrospective study of 811 men and women at 20-34 years of age found
no differences in thyroid health outcomes between those fed soy-based
versus cow's milk-based formula. Despite reassurances in human data,
it is still prudent to be mindful of soy isoflavone effects when
chronic dosing/consumption is involved and attempt to vary the diet.
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