AsianScientist (Sep. 28, 2011) – A new study published in the journal Stroke reveals promising data on the effects of soy in reducing the progression of clogged arteries in postmenopausal women.
Conducted between 2004 and 2009, the study was a double-blind, placebo-controlled parallel-design study of 350 postmenopausal women aged 45-92 years without diagnosed diabetes or heart disease from the Los Angeles region.
The progression rate of atherosclerosis, measured by carotid artery intima-media thickness (CIMT), was 16 percent lower on average in the isoflavone-containing soy protein group compared with the placebo group.
However, in women who had experienced menopause within the past five years, isolated soy protein consumption was associated with a significant 68 percent reduction in CIMT progression compared to those consuming the placebo.
“These results are consistent with what we have learned through research conducted over the past decade,” said Dr. Howard N. Hodis, USC Keck School of Medicine and lead author of the study.
“The literature demonstrates that there is a ‘window of opportunity’ of a potential beneficial effect on coronary heart disease for products that bind to the estrogen receptor including hormone-replacement therapy, soybean isoflavones, or selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) when initiated in women within five to six years of menopause.”
Excellent compliance, confirmed by plasma and urine isoflavone measurements, was observed for this study as determined by package and bar count (86.5 percent for placebo and 91.0 percent for isolated soy protein).
“The high compliance suggests that the clinical study products provided by Solae were very palatable and were not associated with any significant adverse effects as confirmed by the data,” said Dr. Elaine Krul, nutrition discovery lead at soy ingredients supplier, Solae.
This study was the largest and longest randomized controlled human study conducted to-date that directly investigated the efficacy of isolated soy protein consumption on the progression of atherosclerosis.
Subjects in this study were ‘healthy’ with no previous signs of cardiovascular disease, which may explain the lack of significant reduction in plasma lipids that is seen in persons with higher plasma lipid levels.
“This study also showed a significant increase in HDL (“the good”) cholesterol in participants consuming isolated soy protein,” said Krul.
“The results of this study reinforce that soy protein can provide health benefits for the healthy aging market segment.”
The article can be found at: Hodis HN et al. (2011) Isoflavone Soy Protein Supplementation and Atherosclerosis Progression in Healthy Postmenopausal Women.
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Source: Solae, LLC.
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