Dataset Information

Soy infant formula and seizures in children with autism: a retrospective study.

ABSTRACT: Seizures are a common phenotype in many neurodevelopmental disorders including fragile X syndrome, Down syndrome and autism. We hypothesized that phytoestrogens in soy-based infant formula were contributing to lower seizure threshold in these disorders. Herein, we evaluated the dependence of seizure incidence on infant formula in a population of autistic children. Medical record data were obtained on 1,949 autistic children from the SFARI Simplex Collection. An autism diagnosis was determined by scores on the ADI-R and ADOS exams. The database included data on infant formula use, seizure incidence, the specific type of seizure exhibited and IQ. Soy-based formula was utilized in 17.5% of the study population. Females comprised 13.4% of the subjects. There was a 2.6-fold higher rate of febrile seizures [4.2% versus 1.6%, OR?=?2.6, 95% CI?=?1.3-5.3], a 2.1-fold higher rate of epilepsy comorbidity [3.6% versus 1.7%, OR?=?2.2, 95% CI?=?1.1-4.7] and a 4-fold higher rate of simple partial seizures [1.2% versus 0.3%, OR?=?4.8, 95% CI?=?1.0-23] in the autistic children fed soy-based formula. No statistically significant associations were found with other outcomes including: IQ, age of seizure onset, infantile spasms and atonic, generalized tonic clonic, absence and complex partial seizures. Limitations of the study included: infant formula and seizure data were based on parental recall, there were significantly less female subjects, and there was lack of data regarding critical confounders such as the reasons the subjects used soy formula, age at which soy formula was initiated and the length of time on soy formula. Despite these limitations, our results suggest that the use of soy-based infant formula may be associated with febrile seizures in both genders and with a diagnosis of epilepsy in males in autistic children. Given the lack of data on critical confounders and the retrospective nature of the study, a prospective study is required to confirm the association.

SUBMITTER: Westmark CJ

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3951190 | biostudies-literature | 2014

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Soy infant formula and seizures in children with autism: a retrospective study.

Westmark Cara J CJ

PloS one 20140312 3

Seizures are a common phenotype in many neurodevelopmental disorders including fragile X syndrome, Down syndrome and autism. We hypothesized that phytoestrogens in soy-based infant formula were contributing to lower seizure threshold in these disorders. Herein, we evaluated the dependence of seizure incidence on infant formula in a population of autistic children. Medical record data were obtained on 1,949 autistic children from the SFARI Simplex Collection. An autism diagnosis was determined by ...[more]

PMID: 24622158

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Project description:BackgroundUterine fibroids are highly prevalent, benign tumors. They are the leading indication for hysterectomy, and Black women are disproportionally burdened. Soy-based infant formula contains phytoestrogens, and exposure during sensitive developmental windows may adversely affect the developing uterus; early phytoestrogen treatment in rodent studies led to detrimental uterine effects, including increased fibroid risk in Eker rats. Limited epidemiological studies also have suggested increased fibroid development with soy formula infant feeding.ObjectiveThe goal of this study was to examine the association between soy formula feeding in infancy and fibroid development in adulthood.MethodsWe evaluated this association among 1,610 Black/African-American women age 23-35 y in the Study of Environment, Lifestyle & Fibroids (SELF). Soy formula feeding data was gathered directly from the participants' mothers (89%). A standardized ultrasound examination was conducted during 4 clinic visits over 5 y to detect fibroids ≥0.5cm in diameter. We used Cox proportional hazards regression to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the association between soy formula feeding and incident fibroids adjusted for early-life and adult factors. Fibroid growth was calculated as change in log-volume for fibroids matched at successive visits.ResultsOf 1,121 fibroid-free participants at baseline, 150 (13%) were ever fed soy formula as infants, and 269 (24%) developed incident fibroids. We did not observe an association between ever being fed soy formula and incident fibroid risk (HR=1.08; 95% CI: 0.75, 1.54). However, participants fed soy formula within 2 months of birth and for >6 months (n=53) had an elevated risk of fibroid incidence in comparison with those never fed soy formula (HR=1.56; 95% CI: 0.92, 2.65). Fibroid growth rates did not differ.DiscussionAdding support to limited human data, this prospective fibroid study found that soy-based formula feeding during infancy was associated with a suggestive increase in risk of ultrasound-identified incident fibroids in adulthood. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP11089.

Project description:Study questionIs soy formula feeding during infancy associated with menstrual pain in reproductive-age women?Summary answerOur data suggest that soy formula feeding during infancy is associated with several indicators of severe menstrual pain in reproductive-age women.What is known alreadyA prior study observed greater severity of menstrual pain in young women who as infants participated in feeding studies and were assigned to soy-based formula feeding.Study design, size, durationWe used data from the Study of Environment, Lifestyle & Fibroids (SELF), a cohort of 1696 African-American women ages 23-35 years at enrollment.Participants/materials, settings, methodsData on infant soy formula feeding was ascertained by self-administered questionnaire for 1553 participants, with 89% of participants receiving assistance from their mothers. Information on menstrual pain indicators was collected by web- and telephone-interview. We estimated the relative risk (RR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) using log-binomial regression, or log-multinomial regression, adjusting for participant age and maternal education.Main results and the role of chanceWomen ever fed soy formula as infants were more likely than unexposed women to report ever use of hormonal contraception for menstrual pain (RR 1.4, CI: 1.1-1.9) and moderate/severe menstrual discomfort/pain with 'most periods', but not 'every period', during early adulthood (ages 18-22 when not using hormonal contraception) (RR 1.5, CI: 1.1-2.0).Limitations, reasons for cautionWe relied on retrospective recall to ascertain infant exposure to soy formula feeding and data on menstrual pain indicators.Wider implications of the findingsOur observations add to the growing body of literature from animal and human studies on the reproductive health consequences of early-life exposure to soy formula.Study funding/competing interest(s)This research was supported by the Intramural Research Program of the NIH, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and, in part, by funds allocated for health research by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. This research was also supported by grant K99NR017191 (KU). None of the authors has a conflict of interest.Trial registration numberNot applicable.

Dataset Information

Soy infant formula and seizures in children with autism: a retrospective study.

Publications

Soy infant formula and seizures in children with autism: a retrospective study.

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