title: Role of isoflavones in the hypocholesterolemic effect of soy.
abstract: Epidemiologic data suggest an inverse relationship between the consumption of soy isoflavones and cardiovascular disease risk. The aims of this review are to determine if isoflavones play a role in the hypocholesterolemic effect of soy and whether the studies realized with that scope were adequately designed. In humans, most studies have been performed in postmenopausal women. The results are inconsistent, however; some studies show a decrease in total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein concentrations, and an increase in high-density lipoprotein levels, and other investigations fail to show any beneficial effect of soy isoflavones on lipid profiles. In most studies, beneficial effects could not be attributed with certainty to soy isoflavones. If these components have any health-protecting effect in humans, it is small in comparison with the effect of soy protein itself. There are currently not enough data to recommend the consumption of isoflavone supplements to lower plasma cholesterol levels.
authors.affiliation: School of Dietetics and Human Nutrition, Macdonald Campus of McGill University, Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec, Canada, H9X 3V9.
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Demonty
authors.forename: Benoît
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lamarche
authors.forename: Peter J H
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Jones
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood*; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D007529:Isoflavones / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D011323:Primates; D012377:Rodentia; D013025:Glycine max / Q000737:chemistry*; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D007529:Isoflavones; D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol