Soy associated with an increased risk of asthma

This study was published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 2003 Sep;78(3):414-21

Study title and authors:
Food and nutrient intakes and asthma risk in young adults.

Woods RK, Walters EH, Raven JM, Wolfe R, Ireland PD, Thien FC, Abramson MJ.
Department of Epidemiology & Preventive Medicine, Central and Eastern Clinical School, Monash University, and The Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12936923

The goal of the study was to determine whether the food and nutrient intakes of adults with asthma differ from those of adults without asthma. In the study the dietary habits of 1,601 young adults (average age 34.6 years) were analysed.

The study found:
(a) Consumption of soy beverage was associated with an increased risk of asthma.
(b) Consumption of butter, red meat, total fat, saturated fat and cholesterol were associated with a lower risk of asthma.