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Phytoestrogens and coronary heart disease
1Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Comparative Medicine Clinical Research Center, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA.
Bailliere'S Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism
|June 29, 1999
Summary
Soy phytoestrogens offer significant cardiovascular benefits, including improved cholesterol levels and reduced atherosclerosis progression. These heart-healthy effects are comparable in both males and females.
Area of Science:
- Nutritional Science
- Cardiovascular Health
- Phytochemistry
Background:
- Extensive research confirms soy protein's cardioprotective properties.
- The specific contribution of soy's phytoestrogens to these benefits is an area of recent investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the proportion of soy protein's cardiovascular benefits attributable to its phytoestrogen content.
- To compare the effects of isolated soy protein with alcohol-extracted soy protein isolate.
Main Methods:
- Comparative analysis of cardiovascular benefits between standard soy protein isolate and alcohol-extracted soy protein isolate.
- Evaluation of effects on lipid profiles, lipoprotein oxidation, and arterial health.
Main Results:
- Soy phytoestrogens were found to lower low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and increase high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol.
- Significant increases in apolipoprotein A-1 (ApoA-1) were observed, alongside prevention of lipoprotein oxidation.
- Favorable influence on coronary artery reactivity and inhibition of atherosclerosis progression in multiple arterial beds.
Conclusions:
- Soy phytoestrogens play a crucial role in mediating the cardiovascular benefits of soy protein.
- These benefits include improved lipid profiles, enhanced arterial function, and reduced atherosclerosis.
- The cardioprotective effects of soy phytoestrogens are consistent across both males and females.