Positive Health Online

Abstract

AZADBAKHT, WILLETT and COLLEAGUES, Department of Nutrition, School of Health, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran. lazadbakht@hotmail.com  sought to determine the effects of soy consumption on markers of inflammation and endothelial function in postmenopausal women with the metabolic syndrome.

Background

Methodology

This randomized cross-over clinical trial included 42 postmenopausal women with the metabolic syndrome. Participants were randomly assigned to consume a control diet (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension [DASH]), soy protein diet, or soy nut diet, each for 8 weeks. Red meat in the DASH diet (one serving/day) was replaced by soy protein in the soy protein diet and by soy nut in the soy nut diet.

Results

For nitric oxide levels, the difference from the control diet was 9.8% (P < 0.01) on the soy nut and -1.7% (P = 0.10) on the soy protein diets. The difference from the control diet for serum E-selectin was -11.4% (P < 0.01) on the soy nut consumption and -4.7% (P = 0.19) on the soy protein diet. Soy nut consumption reduced interleukin-18 compared with the control diet (difference from the control diet: -9.2%, P < 0.01), but soy protein did not (difference from the control diet: -4.6%, P = 0.14). For C-reactive protein, the difference from the control diet was -8.9% (P < 0.01) on the soy nut diet and -1.6% (P < 0.01) on the soy protein diet.

Conclusion

Short-term soy nut consumption reduced some markers of inflammation and increased plasma nitric oxide levels in postmenopausal women with the metabolic syndrome.

References

Azadbakht L, Kimiagar M,  Mehrabi Y,  Esmaillzadeh A, Hu FB and Willett WC. Soy consumption, markers of inflammation, and endothelial function: a cross-over study in postmenopausal women with the metabolic syndrome. Diabetes Care. 30(4): 967-73. Apr 2007.