A new study reveals that men who consume soy products on a regular basis are at an increased risk of developing infertility disorders.

According to a study published in Human Reproduction, the sperm concentration of men that eat as much as half of a soy serving daily is 41 million/ml lower than those who do not eat soy at all.

The findings show that a soy-rich diet hinders sperm production because of the estrogenic properties of soy isoflavones.

The study indicates that obese men who consume soy regularly have the lowest sperm count, suggesting that fat tissue is what contributes to the extra estrogen production in such individuals.

The Harvard School of Public Health researchers, however, have not been able to explain why many Asians who regularly consume high amounts of soy have never faced fertility disorders.

Previous studies had enumerated the benefits of a soy-rich diet in lowering cholesterol, boosting cognitive function and protecting against prostate cancer.

PKH/AA