Soy has positive effects on cholesterol

A previous post reported the American Heart Association’s (AHA) position that soy as a dietary factor has unproven or uncertain effects on cardiovascular disease.

Now, a review of 42 well-designed clinical trials from 1982 through 2004 reports the following positive effects about soy.

• Lowers total cholesterol
• Lowers LDL “bad” cholesterol
• Lowers triglycerides
• Slightly raises HDL “good: cholesterol

These changes were statistically significant, and no other factors could have accounted for the favorable effects of soy.

It’s important because high cholesterol is a major modifiable risk factor for heart disease. Using soy protein in place of foods that are high in saturated fat, trans-saturated fat, and cholesterol may have a beneficial effect on coronary risk factors.

It will be interesting to see if the AHA changes its position on soy.

9/21/06 20:41 JR