Correlation Between Soy Milk Formula Consumption with Plasma Estradiol Level and Growth of Children in Denpasar

Abstract

Soy milk formula is a formula which contains soybean as a substitute for cow s milk protein. Consumption of soy formula has caused widespread concern especially related to the effect of isoflavones. We aimed to determine the correlation of plasma estradiol level and to compare physical growth in children who consumed soy milk formula with children who consumed cow s milk formula. This was a case-control study of children aged six months to two years old who were treated at pediatric outpatient clinic in Sanglah Hospital and private pediatric outpatient clinic in Denpasar from April to July 2015. Subjects were divided into children who consumed soy milk formula and children who consumed cow’s milk formula. Data regarding physical examination, anthropometric measurements, diet types and estradiol level were obtained. Total 28 subjects enrolled. We found significant difference in estradiol level between the two groups (OR: 0.33; p = 0.001; 95% CI = 0.17 - 0.64). We found no significant difference in sexual development between those two groups (OR: 1.25; p = 0.12; 95% CI = 0.92 - 1.71). Furthermore we found no significantly different in physical growth of subjects who consumed soy milk formula compared to cow s milk formula (p>0.05). Soy milk formula consumption did not associated with significant difference of sexual development and growth in children consuming soy milk compared to cow’s milk. However, it related to increament of estradiol level.