Sathyapalan T, et al. - Whether soy isoflavones had an effect on cardiovascular disease risk (CVR) markers was investigated. Significant improvement was seen in CVR markers and calculated CVR at 6 months following supplementation with soy protein with isoflavones for 6 months vs soy protein without isoflavones in women during early menopause.

Methods

• A double blind parallel study was carried out with 200 women (mean age 55 years) in early menopause randomized to 15g soy protein with 66mg isoflavone (SPI) or 15g soy protein alone (depleted of all isoflavones; SP) given as a snack bar between meals daily for 6 months.
• The expected 10-year risk of cardiovascular disease and mortality were calculated as a secondary endpoint, using age, diabetes, smoking, blood pressure and lipid profiles to calculate CVR using the Framingham CVR engine.

Results

• Relative to SP (p<0.01), SPI treatment provided a significant reduction in metabolic parameters and systolic blood pressure.
• With either treatment, no changes were noted in fasting lipid profile and diastolic blood pressure.
• SPI treatment induced changes in these parameters were seen at 6 months and reflected in a calculated 27% (p <0.01) reduction in 10 year coronary heart disease risk, a 37% (p <0.01) reduction in myocardial infarction risk, a 24% (p <0.04) reduction in cardiovascular disease and 42% ( p<0.02) reduction in cardiovascular disease death risk.