Mechanisms of anti-atherosclerotic functions of soy-based diets

Soy-based diets have been reported to protect against the development of atherosclerosis. However, the underlying mechanism(s) for this protection remains unknown. Although atherosclerosis was traditionally considered a disease associated with impaired lipid metabolism, in recent years the inflammatory components of atherosclerosis have been explored. Recent studies have convincingly delineated that uncontrolled chronic inflammation is the principal contributing factor for the initiation and progression of atherosclerosis. Interaction between activated monocytes and vascular endothelial cells is an early event in atherogenesis. The adhesion of leukocytes, including monocytes, to the inflamed-vascular endothelium and their transmigration into intima initiate the inflammatory processes. Following transmigration, monocytes in the intima are transformed to macrophages, which take up oxidized-LDL (oxLDL) to generate lipid-laden macrophages, also known as foam cells. Hence, in this review article the inflammatory processes associated with atherosclerosis and possible anti-inflammatory functions of soy-based diets contributing to the prevention of atherosclerosis are presented.