Dangers of soy formula?

Someone just mentioned in the FFing thread that soy formula can cause premature puberty, so I googled (dangerous, I know ) and found a bunch of articles like the following: http://www.expertclick.com/NewsReleaseWire...FTOKEN=21190104

So I am curious: If a baby has a milk allergy (as one of my sons seems to; he's developed really bad eczema), what alternatives are there to soy formula? Has anyone had their pedi recommend something other than soy formula for a baby with a milk allergy?

 

Personally, we told our pedi that soy formula was a last resort due to my concerns. Because my dd had bad reflux we went through many different formulas just to see if any would help. We did try soy, but only for about 2 weeks and then I stopped immediately because it wasnt helping.
Anyway, if there is a milk allergy you could use a hypoallergenic formula like alimentum or nutramigan-although they are expensive you can avoid soy that way. We are using alimentum for dd here.

 

I have heard that soy can cause peanut sensitivities or even allergies, but I had never heard about the premature puberty until I saw the same post you did. Yikes! My older DD was on soy briefly because she was breaking out in hives, and when we switched to the soy formula she stopped. As it turned out, it was just coincidence that her hives cleared when she was switched, because when we took her to an allergist, the prick test showed no common allergies. She still breaks out occasionally, and we still have not been able to pinpoint the cause.

 

Yes, that's why I would not even drink soy while I was pregnant. Now it's sometimes hard to avoid soy protein. I'm pretty sure even the Similac Regular Digest Ease my boys are on has soy oil in it. Probably most of the formulas have some soy. What I like about our Similac is it doesn't have corn syrup in it. (Try googling that.) Have you tried a Lactose Free formula first to see if maybe it's just the lactose and not the milk protein? I had two kids on the lactose free and they did great.

I hope you are able to find something that works for your son!

 

All of my kids were on soy. I have an 11 year old daughter and 12 year old son, and they are not showing any problems with puberty. ardon:

 

My DS has been on Alimentun since birth just about, and looking on the label, it does contain Soy Oil. Should I be worried?

 

My Pedi put my Lo's on Soy after Similac Advanced. I had the same concerns with my DD and she said that wasnt true. However both ended up getting comstipated from it and now are on Similac sensitive and doing great. I also did not drink or eat soy during pregnancy because of those risks. I personally wouldnt use soy if you don't have too. I do have a friend who was raised on soy products and started her period at 11. Is it a coincidence........I don't know, but she believes it was from the soy. That was the first time I had ever heard that and I was a big Tofu eater.

GL!!

 

DS does also get very constipated from the soy formula. We took him to the pedi for that (once we realized his eczema had cleared after we switched) and she told us to give him dark karo syrup or juice twice a day. We hate giving that to him though because we the karo syrup didn't mix well and giving him juice regularly just seems like too much sugar at his young age. I'll ask about nutramigen or alimentum at the next appointment.
I did drink soymilk pretty much every day during pregnancy; I'd never heard about this!

 

And I would love to take Will to an allergist, because his eczema came back several days after switching back to the soy (but was worse when we put him back on the Nestle GoodStart again). So he's either allergic to both, or possibly allergic to something environmental or maybe even the juices, because it was after the pedi told us to start giving him juices for the soy-induced constipation that his eczema flared up again. Hopefully the pedi will refer us to one who works with infants because we have been trying hard to figure out what he is allergic to but so far it's just not obvious.

 

QUOTE(SC_Amy @ Apr 26 2009, 05:06 PM) [snapback]1289091[/snapback]
And I would love to take Will to an allergist, because his eczema came back several days after switching back to the soy (but was worse when we put him back on the Nestle GoodStart again).


I would keep him on either the Alimentum or the Nutramigen. Derek had a milk protein allergy and the Ped GI said that most babies who have a milk protein intolerance ALSO have a soy intolerance and the sooner you get rid of the milk and the soy the earlier they are supposed to outgrow the intolerance. He also has mild eczema and reflux.

 

both of mine were milk intolerant and had soy from 2 to 12 mos....oh and my mom (who is now 59) started her period at 9 and I got mine at 11 and had never ingested soy - some people just genetically go through puberty early...

I'm of the mindset that if its really that dangerous to the most vulnerable of society the FDA would take it off the market

 

Personally, I wouldn't use it unless as a last resort. It's just not studied well enough and the FDA isn't exactly fool-proof. I'm also the type who steered clear of soy while pregnant though.

 

Are there dangers to boys as well? My DS (who is now 2 1/2 ) was on soy formula under doctor's advice for milk protein allergy. Obviously there is nothing I can do at this point, but now I'm worried!

 

QUOTE(mommy1005 @ Apr 27 2009, 10:49 AM) [snapback]1289895[/snapback]
Are there dangers to boys as well? My DS (who is now 2 1/2 ) was on soy formula under doctor's advice for milk protein allergy. Obviously there is nothing I can do at this point, but now I'm worried!


Possibly ... which makes sense, cos all that estrogen-like stuff can't be good for a boy! Right? It's controversial, I read other articles saying the evidence isn't there to really "condemn" soy formula, so to speak, but click on the link in my OP if you want to read more.

 

unfortunately there is no hard evidence to go either way. Many people belive due to the high amounts of estrogen it can cause infertility in boys and early on-set puberty as well as infertility issues in girls. As I mentioned before we tried it for 2 weeks but didnt notice a difference so switched immediately, if it doesnt make a difference I would personally avoid it. I woudl rather be safe than sorry. I personally have suffered from infertility issues and dont want to increase my dd's chances of infertility any more than they already are.
Its just a personal thing...everyone believes something different.

 

be careful what you believe. you can find "studies" to support every perspective on the internet, no matter how absurd.

the link you provided is hardly an unbiased, expert resource. yes there are estrogen-like compounds in soy. in THEORY they could cause hormonal disruptions. however the evidence is inconclusive. what studies have been able to prove is that you'd have to consume soy in vast, vast quantities in order to accumulate enough and feel effects.

some of the healthiest cultures on earth rely on soy as a dietary staple.

be an informed consumer, don't be alarmist for the sake of being alarmist.

 

QUOTE(piccologirl @ Apr 27 2009, 04:17 PM) [snapback]1290475[/snapback]
the link you provided is hardly an unbiased, expert resource.


obviously, but that was just one example. there are many articles out there saying the same thing, and the significant info mentioned there as well as the other sources is that the FDA-equivalents in several countries are strongly discouraging any use of soy formula if it can be avoided.

 

QUOTE(BlessedByTwo @ Apr 26 2009, 04:28 PM) [snapback]1289071[/snapback]
My Pedi put my Lo's on Soy after Similac Advanced. I had the same concerns with my DD and she said that wasnt true. However both ended up getting comstipated from it and now are on Similac sensitive and doing great. I also did not drink or eat soy during pregnancy because of those risks. I personally wouldnt use soy if you don't have too. I do have a friend who was raised on soy products and started her period at 11. Is it a coincidence........I don't know, but she believes it was from the soy. That was the first time I had ever heard that and I was a big Tofu eater.

GL!!

I grew up never eating soy, rarely eating meat, and drinking milk strait from our own cow(no hormones there), yet I still stared my period at 11. Just rotten luck I guess.

 

Both my girls were on soy formula from about 3 months to 12 months - our Pedi was OK with it and so was I.
I went through puberty reallllly early - never had any soy (period at 9) - I agree with the rotten luck!

 

My dd has a bad milk allergy. The GI doc put her on Neocate. It is completely broken down into just amino acids...no soy. Elecare was our other choice. This formula is very pricey and we have to order it online.