This study investigated the effect of soy and milk protein supplementation on lipids compared with carbohydrate among healthy adults.
Numerous research studies have demonstrated that soy protein reduces LDL cholesterol and increases HDL cholesterol, supporting the soy protein heart health and cholesterol-lowering claim that is approved in 12 countries around the globe.
Elaine Krul, nutrition discovery lead at Solae, said: “Coronary heart disease (CHD) is a major health epidemic, as the Number one killer of women and men globally. Research has shown that lowering blood lipids reduces the risk of coronary heart disease and stroke. The results of this study reveal that soy protein supplementation intake can help lower blood lipids, thus helping to reduce the risk of CHD in healthy individuals.”
In this study, total cholesterol reduction including the total/HDL cholesterol ratio reduction was statistically significant with soy protein supplementation compared with carbohydrate. Compared with milk protein, soy protein supplementation significantly increased HDL and significantly reduced total/HDL cholesterol ratio and lowered LDL cholesterol.
The National Cholesterol Education Program emphasises the importance of therapeutic lifestyle changes for primary prevention of high cholesterol. This includes dietary modification, body weight reduction and increased physical activity. There is increasing evidence that consumption of soy protein in place of animal protein lowers blood cholesterol levels and may provide other cardiovascular benefits.
Krul said: “It’s the simple lifestyle changes, such as including soy protein in your diet, that can often have a positive impact on your health. Research continues to demonstrate that soy protein can help lower LDL cholesterol, an important biomarker for coronary heart disease.”
This study was a randomised, controlled trial that included 352 US healthy adults. Participants in the study were assigned to 40g/day supplementation of soy protein, milk protein or complex carbohydrate for 8 weeks in random order. Solae provided the supplements used in this study.
Source: Solae
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