Isoflavone Research Initiative

Including soy protein in the diet contributes to the reduction of serum lipids – an effect which is likely to be beneficial in adults with type 2 diabetes who have a high risk of developing cardiovascular disease. Using a double-blind, randomized, crossover, placebo-controlled intervention study design, adults with diet-controlled type 2 diabetes (n = 29) consumed soy protein with 80 mg of isoflavones daily or milk protein for 57 days each, separated by a 28-day washout period. Soy protein consumption reduced serum LDL cholesterol (p = 0.04), the LDL to HDL ratio (p = 0.02), and the ratio of apolipoprotein B to apolipoprotein A-I (p = 0.05). The soy preparation did not affect serum total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, triacylglycerol, apolipoprotein B, or apolipoprotein A-I. Overall, these data demonstrate that consumption of soy protein can modulate some serum lipids in a direction beneficial for cardiovascular disease in adults with type 2 diabetes (Pipe et al. 2009).

References

Pipe, E. A., Gobert, C. P., Capes, S. E., Darlington, G. A., Lampe, J. W., and Duncan, A. M. (2009). Soy protein reduces serum LDL cholesterol and the LDL cholesterol:HDL cholesterol and apolipoprotein B:apolipoprotein A-I ratios in adults with type 2 diabetes. J. Nutr. 139 (9): 1700-1706.