Prevention of precancerous colonic lesions in rats by soy flakes, soy flour, genistein, and calcium

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Abstract
The main purpose of this research was to determine whether diets containing soy products would inhibit the early stages of azoxymethane-induced colon cancer in F344 rats. Additional objectives were to determine whether feeding starch instead of sucrose, feeding additional calcium (0.5% compared with 0.1%), or feeding a low-fiber powdered enteral formula would influence early colon carcinogenesis. Colon cancer was initiated with 2 injections of azoxymethane (15 mg/kg body wt) and a 12-wk dietary treatment period was started 1 wk after the second injection. Precancerous colon lesions were assessed as foci with aberrant crypts (FAC). The mean numbers of FAC were 133 [soy concentrate (low concentration of phytochemicals)], 111 (starch substituted for sucrose), 98 [full-fat soy flakes (whole soybeans)], 87 (defatted soy flour), 77 (0.015% genistein), and 70 (0.5% Ca). The soy flour and full-fat soy flake diets contained 0.049% genistein derivatives (primarily glycosides), but were less effective in inhibiting the formation of FAC than the diet containing 0.015% genistein (as the aglycone). Eating soybeans and soy flour may reduce the early stages of colon cancer.