Lipids: eating soy protein reduced lipid levels by a small amount.

Clinical bottom line (level 2a)

  1. Healthy people who eat soy protein had small falls in cholesterol (on average 0.6 mmol/l) and triglycerides (on average 0.15 mmol/l).
Anderson et al: New England Journal of Medicine 1995; 333: 276-282
Expires March 2003

The study

Systematic review of comparative studies of
  • Patients: free-living with hypercholesterolaemia or normocholesterolaemia
  • Intervention: isolated soy protein or textured soy protein
  • Outcome: reduction in lipid levels


    • Articles found in ? using ?, ? (search terms: )

    Selection criteria: detailed in text
    Appraisal criteria: not given
    Articles excluded if:
    • no control group
    • use several sources of vegetable protein
    • whole soybeans used
    • base-line values not provided


    28 studies found with participants eating on average 47 g soy protein daily

    The evidence

    • fall in total cholesterol: 0.6 mmol/l (95% CI: 0.35 to 0.85)
    • fall in triglycerides: 0.15 mmol/l (95% CI: 0.0 to 0.29)

    Comments

    1. These benefits are very small and require participants to eat plenty of soy protein.
    2. Failure to indicate how the studies were selected or appraised make these results less certain.

    Citation

    1. Anderson JW, Johnstone BM, Cook-Newall ME: meta-analysis of the effects of soy protein intake on serum lipids. New England Journal of Medicine 1995; 333: 276-282
    Search Terms: ?
    Contributor: Chris Ball and Clare Wotton, February 2000
    Reviewer: Kev Hopayian

    Clinical Question.
    Patient well
    Intervention or Exposure soy-protein
    Outcome reduction in lipid levels