Health effects of soy consumption have been reported for protection against breast and prostate cancer (3–5), osteoporosis (6), cardiovascular diseases (7, 8), and the alleviation of hot flashes (9). Also, while most studies analyze circulating hormones, others report the urinary excretion of metabolites. In general, the available evidence for an association between dietary phytoestrogens and endocrine biomarkers is inconclusive. Regarding bone remodeling, the effects of phytoestrogens on OC concentrations are unclear, and their beneficial impact may arise instead from reducing bone resorption by osteoclasts. Nevertheless, soy isoflavones appear not to affect euthyroid populations with an optimal iodine status 9,117. It is not clearly established if phytoestrogen consumption alters the hypothalamic–pituitary–thyroid axis and triggers goitrogenic effects in humans 9,117. Lastly, results from epidemiological studies support the hypothesis that some phytoestrogens may have a positive influence on SHBG. Only Crisafulli A et al. found lower gonadotropin levels after 54 mg/day of genistein supplementation for 6 months in 60 postmenopausal women compared to the control group . Other hormones affected by the disruption of the hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis are the gonadotropins FSH and LH, which according to different clinical trials are not affected by phytoestrogen supplementation 14,79,82,83,107,108,109. Other studies, however, did not find any difference in the ratio after phytoestrogen supplementation in postmenopausal women 81,95, and one even reports a lower ratio . However, possible goitrogenic activity derived from phytoestrogen consumption opens up a path for future research. Effects on sex hormones and IGFs in men are ambiguous, as studies report contradictory results. In adulthood, endocrine changes arising from phytoestrogen consumption are unclear, although goitrogenic activity has been observed in men. Nor have endocrine changes been found in infants fed with soy formula, except in a retrospective study carried out in the first year of life of infants with congenital hypothyroidism, which reported an increase of TSH but no conclusive effects on thyroid function. Although phytoestrogens transfer from maternal blood to the fetus, no effects have been observed in early life. Conversely, a cross-sectional study with 312 men reported a positive association between soy intake and the IGF-1, IGFBP-3, and IGF molar ratio . In one of two clinical trials with PCa patients, no changes in IGF-1 or IGFBP-3 were observed after a 3–6-month intervention consisting of 200 mg/day of soy isoflavones and in the other Bylund A. Although higher levels of leptin have been reported in early life, no association has been identified in adulthood. There is particular concern about how they may affect pregnant women, as this has been poorly studied. Et al. (2003) also found that IGF-1 levels remained unaltered after the administration of rye bran bread for 3 weeks . Phytoestrogen effects on urinary estrogen metabolites have been studied in order to assess their potential protective role against breast cancer. Et al. (2008) also reported lower E1 concentrations after soy protein supplementation in tibolone-using postmenopausal women who were equol producers . Two other postmenopausal studies suggested that flaxseed lignans may reduce E2 and E1 sulfate in healthy women, and E1 concentrations in obese and overweight women . Two clinical trials did report a decrease of DHEA-sulfate concentrations in healthy premenopausal women after 1 to 3 months on a diet high in soy and soy products 18,47. Most authors have not found any effects of a phytoestrogen-rich diet on circulating levels of androgens 23,53,56,57,64,65. But don't be fooled by their name, since these compounds don't behave at all like the hormones (estrogens) in our bodies! However, another study found that soy may interfere with thyroid hormone medication used to treat hypothyroidism. A meta-analysis of 18 randomized controlled trials found that although soy supplements raised thyroid stimulating hormone levels slightly, they did not have any effect on actual thyroid hormone production. The soy isoflavone, daidzein, has been hypothesized to reduce decline in cognitive function or disease processes related to cognition and behavior. Long-term low levels of estrogen the occur in menopausal women can reduce the number of estrogen receptors in the brain that are necessary for specific cognitive functions like memory and learning.