Does soy give men Gynecomastia? (aka man-boobs)

Soy is a hot nutrition topic so I thought we could do a little myth busting on a common question I get about soy: does soy give men Gynecomastia? (aka man-boobs). Because I’m a plant-based dietitian (though I work with patients on ALL diets) I really wanted to tackle some of these myths that keep circulating. This one is dangerous because it actually prevents men from including a very important food in their diets! I developed a real passion for this topic during my position as Chair a few years back with the Vegetarian Nutrition Dietetic Practice Group. Leading that organization was such a gift and I got to be surrounded by so many experts from around the country. 

Soy (and many other other plant foods) contains “plant-estrogen” aka “phytoestrogen” which people fear mimics human estrogen and can stimulate cancer growth…or dominate a male’s testosterone levels, which would promote the spontaneous development of the dreaded man-boob (not a term I personally choose to use but one I am asked about often). This is the foundation of the fear but I’m here to break the research down for you so you can finally have your question answered: Does soy give men Gynecomastia? (aka man-boobs)?

What do the experts say?

Based on an analysis of current literature, the firm, evidence-based conclusion that the consumption of soy foods does not have an impact on testosterone levels. The consensus is based on a research analysis that demonstrated soyfoods or supplements containing 40-70mg/d of soy isoflavones had no impact on hormones and semen quality. Other studies have found that up to 150mg/day of soy isoflavones have no impact on estrogen levels. To put it in perspective an entire block of tofu has only 100 grams of isoflavones. Two research studies have found that the consumption of the equivalent of 4 blocks of tofu or 9 cups of soy milk has been shown to have a feminizing effect on men, but that is a ton of tofu and soy milk! 

Another controversial study showed a 19% decrease in testosterone in 12 participants after 4 weeks of consuming 56 grams of isolated soy protein daily. For reference, on average most people require between 60-80 grams of protein per day (based on body size).  That means that this small group of study participants was eating very large quantities of a processed soy source. My recommendation is not to do this; I would have advised against it even before I read the study.

The consumption of any food can lead to abnormalities; not just soy. It is always recommended to consume whole foods over heavily processed alternatives to avoid the over consumption of a singular nutrient. Overall, there is no concern around eating soy products, even daily, and in fact soy has so many health benefits it should be classified as a superfood!

Soy as a superfood

The macro and micronutrient composition of soy is truly remarkable; the protein quality of soy is nearly identical to that of meat, it is low in carbohydrates and therefore suitable for diabetics, and it contains both omega 3 and omega 6 essential fatty acids. Soy has been directly linked to improved cardiovascular health including assisting to lower LDL cholesterol and blood pressure, reducing arterial stiffness, and promoting vasodilation. In addition the consumption of soy products may reduce rates of cardiovascular events, like heart attacks.

As if heart health is not convincing enough, the consumption of soy has also been demonstrated to be protective against cancer, including prostate cancer. There is some evidence that the isoflavones in soy may inhibit metastasis, the development of secondary malignant growths.

So is the fear around “man-boobs” significant enough for men to not eat soy and miss out on the ample benefits from the consumption of this superfood? I would say it is not. “Man-boobs” from eating soy is almost unheard of but cardiovascular disease and prostate cancer are both leading causes of death in the United States. The daily consumption of soy is both healthful and encouraged. Whole-food soy products like tofu, soy milk, tempeh, miso, and edamame are all extremely healthy and contribute to heart health and cancer prevention. However, soy isolates, especially those with added sweeteners or preservatives should be consumed minimally. 

Does soy give men Gynecomastia? (aka man-boobs)

Please remember that you likely eat plant estrogens every day. Soy may have a higher concentration, but a plant fiber called “lignans” found in many plant foods including seeds, whole grains, bran, beans, fruits , and vegetables also contain plant estrogens.  According to the Linus Pauling Institute, though most research on phytoestrogen-rich diets has focused on soy isoflavones, lignans are the main source of phytoestrogens in our general diets.  If you eat fruits, veggies, beans and whole grains and don’t have man-boobs yet then you’ll likely be ok eating a little soy. 

I have a hard time when someone is telling me they can’t eat soy (which has proven health benefits) but they’re chugging soda, alcohol, or eating sugary desserts.  You want to know what will more likely cause man-boobs? Too much chocolate cake and beer.

You can find research to support what you want it to; that is certain. I encourage you to listen to people without a financial interest in the topic they are educating you on and when you need an answer regarding your health, please find a medical provider, registered dietitian or researcher who can provide you a research-based answer and not just a friend, nutrition enthusiast, or Google who tells you to avoid soy because it gives you man-boobs…..

Please reach out to me to schedule an appointment to discuss your nutrition needs if you have more questions about using soy foods in your diet. 

Soy is a hot nutrition topic but despite controversial claims, soy is a health food that should be a part of your healthy, balanced diet. It is easy and delicious to include soy in your favorite meals, you can use soy milk in your smoothies, add tofu to your stir frys, and enjoy tempeh in your tacos. If you are still concerned about soy, just shy away from processed soy and focus on whole soy products like tofu, tempeh, soy milk, miso, and edamame beans. Soy is a superb complete protein that can help you to reduce your consumption of meat, increase healthy plant-proteins in your diet, and help you to live a happy, healthy life.

What do you think? This can be an emotionally charged and controversial topic – I’d love to hear your feedback and experience!