The effect of soybean protein on bone loss in a rat model of postmenopausal osteoporosis

This study was designed to investigate the modulatory effect of dietary soybean protein on the skeleton of an ovariectomized rat model with postmenopausal osteoporosis. Thirty-two female Sprague-Dawley rats were weight matched and divided into the following four experimental groups: Soy group, ovariectomized and fed soy protein diet; Estrogen group, ovariectomized, fed casein diet and injected with estrogen; Casein group, ovariectomized and fed casein diet; and Sham group, sham-operated and fed casein diet. The diets and estrogen were started two weeks after surgery, and continued for four weeks. Rats in the Sham, Soy and Estrogen groups had significantly higher (p < 0.05) femur and tibia ash content than those in the Casein group. Accordingly, the calcium content of the tibia and femur were also significantly higher (p < 0.05) in the Soy, Estrogen and Sham groups as compared to the Casein group. Serum total and bone-type alkaline phosphatase levels were both significantly lower (p < 0.05) in the Estrogen and Sham groups in relation to the Soy and Casein groups. This study demonstrated that a 22% soybean protein diet could be just as effective as daily estrogen administration in suppressing bone loss due to ovariectomy. However, unlike estrogen, soy protein diet did not have any uterotrophic effect and did not decrease the markers of bone turnover measured, suggesting a possible difference in the mechanism of action.