to the editor: I enjoyed the excellent article by Dr. Ullom-Minnich on the prevention of osteoporosis and fractures.¹ For practicing physicians, the preventive aspects of managing osteoporosis can have a significant impact on the lives of patients.

The article¹ contained little mention, however, of the nutritional methods of preventing osteoporosis that specifically relate to soy proteins. Dr. Ullom-Minnich correctly identified women of Asian descent as being at higher risk for fracture secondary to osteoporosis but failed to clarify that these are westernized women now eating a western diet. Asian women residing in their home countries actually have a significantly lower risk of osteoporosis and subsequent fractures that seem to be related to large amounts of soy in their diets.^2,3 A growing body of data show that the isoflavones found in soy protein produce a stabilizing effect on the bone matrix.^4–6 Animal and human studies increasingly show that a diet rich in soy proteins has some of the positive effects of estrogen replacement therapy without the risky side effects.^4–6 Further studies are ongoing and will no doubt continue to support the nutritional value of soy proteins for osteoporosis prevention.

editor's note: This letter was sent to the author of “Prevention of Osteoporosis and Fractures,” who declined to reply.