Foods made from soybeans are increasingly popular, and not just because of the taste. Studies has found that soy can be good for the health in different ways. Now, research in the United States shows that a molecule in soy may help prevent colon cancer. The Journal of Nutrition published the study by researchers at Georgia Tech, Emory University and the Karmanos Cancer Institute.

由大豆制成的食品越来越受欢迎，不仅仅是因为它的味道。研究发现大豆对健康有不同的好处。现在，美国的研究表明，大豆中的一个分子可以帮助预防结肠癌。《营养学杂志》(The Journal of Nutrition)在乔治亚理工学院(Georgia Tech)、埃默里大学(Emory University)和Karmanos癌症研究所(Karmanos Cancer Institute)发表了这项研究。

Al Merrill of Georgia Tech says that soy is known to suppress cancer. He says that some of this effect may be from a group of molecules. These are called sphingolipids (se-FIN-go-LIP-ids). Plants and animals have many different kinds.

乔治亚理工学院的Al Merrill说大豆被认为可以抑制癌症。他说，这种效应可能来自一组分子。这些被称为鞘脂类(se -鳍- go- lipid - ids)。植物和动物有许多不同的种类。

Earlier research led by Professor Merill showed that such molecules in milk can suppress the formation of growths. But he says this is the first study to show that similar molecules in plants can also suppress cancer.

先前由Merill教授领导的研究表明，牛奶中的这种分子可以抑制生长的形成。但他说，这是第一个研究表明植物中类似的分子也能抑制癌症。

The study found that a molecule known as soy GlcCer (glick-SEER) reduced the formation and growth of tumor cells in mice. Some of the mice were born with a gene that leads to colon cancer. Others were given a chemical that causes the disease.

研究发现，一种叫做大豆GlcCer(glick - seer)的分子可以减少老鼠体内肿瘤细胞的形成和生长。一些小鼠天生具有导致结肠癌的基因。另一些人则被赋予一种化学物质，导致这种疾病。

The soy GlcCer passed through the stomach and intestines. But Professor Merrill says it stayed strong enough to suppress cancerous cells in the colon, part of the large intestine. The next step is to see if the molecule works the same way in humans.

大豆GlcCer通过胃和肠。但梅里尔教授表示，它的强度足以抑制结肠中的癌细胞，这是大肠的一部分。下一步是观察分子是否以同样的方式在人类中工作。

Interest in soy has led to many more food and health products that contain it. These are especially popular with older women. Their bodies no longer produce the female hormone estrogen. So they worry about their risk of breast cancer.

对大豆的兴趣导致了更多的食品和健康产品。这些在老年妇女中尤其受欢迎。他们的身体不再产生雌性激素。所以他们担心自己患乳腺癌的风险。

Soy contains two substances that are similar to estrogen. However, experts say one of these might increase the risk of breast cancer in some women. They say more research is needed on the different chemicals in soy and the safety of taking them in large amounts.

大豆含有两种与雌激素相似的物质。然而，专家称其中一种可能会增加一些女性患乳腺癌的风险。他们说，需要对大豆中的不同化学物质和大量服用它们的安全性进行更多的研究。

Earlier this year, scientists reported that soy may help men prevent prostate cancer. But some men apparently are concerned about the estrogen-like effect of soy. So, in a different study, scientists had men eat much larger amounts of soy than they would normally get in food.

今年早些时候，科学家报道大豆可以帮助男性预防前列腺癌。但一些男性显然对大豆的雌激素效应感到担忧。因此，在一项不同的研究中，科学家们让男性吃的大豆比通常吃的要多得多。

There were a few side effects reported, including breast enlargement. But researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill said none of these effects were serious.

报告有一些副作用，包括丰胸。但北卡罗来纳大学教堂山分校的研究人员表示，这些影响都不严重。