title: Increased one week soybean consumption affects spatial abilities but not sex hormone status in men.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Increased soybean intake is often recommended for the prevention of hormone-dependent cancer, cardiovascular diseases and age-related cognitive decline. Although isolated phytoestrogens have shown these positive effects, the evidence for such influence of increased consumption of soybeans is lacking.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To prove the effects of short-term increased soybean intake on sex hormone levels and spatial cognitive parameters in men.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seven young healthy men were asked to eat 900 g soybeans during 1 week. Sex hormone levels were determined in saliva and plasma, and mental rotation and spatial visualization were quantified by standard psychometric tests. All parameters were assessed before and after the study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Plasma estradiol, total and free testosterone, as well as salivary testosterone and estradiol remained unchained. Spatial cognitive performance was improved after increased soybean intake when considering spatial visualization (P=0.03). The results for mental rotation showed similar dynamics, but the changes were not significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Short-term increased soybean intake does not affect sex hormone status, but improves spatial cognitive performance in young healthy men.
authors: Institute of Pathophysiology, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, Bratislava, Slovak Republic. petercelec@gmail.com
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Celec
authors: Daniela
authors: D
authors: Ostatníková
authors: Július
authors: J
authors: Hodosy
authors: Zdenek
authors: Z
authors: Putz
authors: Matús
authors: M
authors: Kúdela
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D048789:Phytoestrogens / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry*; D013025:Glycine max / Q000378:metabolism*; D013028:Space Perception / Q000187:drug effects*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D048789:Phytoestrogens; D013739:Testosterone; D004958:Estradiol