Effect of soya on metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular risk factors

Alpro Foundation Supported Research

Prof. Paolo Magni, Associate Professor, Università degli Studi di Milano Statale

The aim of this 12-week intervention study was to assess the cardio-metabolic effects of a daily intake of 30g soya protein in place of animal protein.

Study design

Men and menopausal women aged 45-75 years who fulfilled 3-4 metabolic syndrome (MetS) criteria and who were prescribed a Mediterranean-style dietary plan were randomised to the control group (n=27) or the intervention group (n=26). The control group continued to follow the prescribed Mediterranean style diet whilst the intervention group’s Mediterranean diet, was adapted to include soya foods providing 30g of soya protein per day in substitution of animal foods containing the same protein amount (soya nuggets, soya burgers, soya-based alternatives to yogurt and soya drinks).

Results

Soya intervention resulted in a reduction in several MetS features. Moreover, the soya group experienced a significant improvement in median percentage changes for body weight (-1.5 %), body mass index (-1.5 %), and for atherogenic lipid markers, like total cholesterol (-4.85 %), LDL-cholesterol (-5.25 %), non-HDL-cholesterol (-7.14 %) and apolipoprotein B (-14.8 %).

Substitution of animal protein with soya protein improves cardiovascular and metabolic risk factors with a significant reduction in LDL and of insulin resistance.

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