CONTACT:
Geri Berdak
The Solae Company
314.982.2588
gberdak@solae.com

SOY PROTEIN CONSUMPTION CAN REDUCE THE RISK OF PROSTATE CANCER IN MEN

ST. LOUIS, MO. (June 30, 2005) – Regular consumption of soy protein-containing foods and beverages may reduce the risk of prostate cancer in men by as much as 30 percent, according to a study published in this month’s issue of the International Journal of Cancer.

Authored by Lin Yan, Ph.D., director of cancer research for The Solae Company and Edward Spitznagel, Ph.D., professor of mathematics at Washington University, the recently released study is a meta-analysis of eight population studies published to date that investigated consumption of soy protein-containing foods in relation to prostate cancer in men.

Five of these studies were completed in the U.S and Canada, while three were conducted in Asian countries. The statistical analysis of the combined studies demonstrated a dramatic 30 percent reduction in the risk of prostate cancer in men who regularly consumed soy protein-containing foods.

The finding of this study is also consistent and supported by a cross-national analysis of prostate mortality rate in relation to nutritional factors using data from United Nations sources. In the 42 countries which the appropriate data is available, soy consumption is correlated to a significantly lower mortality rate from prostate cancer. The protection from soy is demonstrated to be at least four times greater than from any other dietary factors that were analyzed.
“Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths for American men, exceeded only by lung cancer,” said Dr. Yan. “A diet that contains soy protein may be able to help prevent them from ever having to deal with this deadly disease.”

The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2005 there will be 232,090 new cases of prostate cancer and 30,350 deaths from prostate cancer in the United States.

“In addition to preventing prostate cancer, other benefits – such as maintaining overall health, lowering cholesterol, and even slowing the development of diabetes – of incorporating soy protein in a daily diet are slowly coming to light,” said Dr. Yan. “Most research points toward soy protein being considered a more than just a heart healthy food.”

About The Solae Company
Headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, The Solae Company is a global innovator in technology development and the research and application of soy protein. It serves food and beverage manufacturers, dietary supplement developers, retailers and consumers in 100 countries worldwide including the United States and Canada, Europe and the Middle East, Latin America and the Asia/Pacific region. The company was formed through an alliance between Bunge Limited (NYSE: BG) and DuPont (NYSE: DD). For more than 30 years, The Solae Company has invested in fundamental research to understand the health benefits of soy protein in order to provide better ingredients for better living. Researchers at more than 180 leading universities and research institutions have used soy protein products produced by The Solae Company in hundreds of completed and ongoing soy studies. For more about the health benefits of soy protein, including additional research and sources, please visit www.thesolaecompany.com.

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