[PHNUTR-L] Statement of Facts: Soy and Cholesterol

[Kathrynne Holden, MS, RD]

Colleagues, the following is FYI and does not necessarily reflect my own
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Source: Solae Company 	  	
Released: Wed 25-Jan-2006, 05:00 ET
http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/517507/?sc=dwhp

Statement of Facts: Soy and Cholesterol

Description
A recent American Heart Association report has caused some confusion 
about the heart health benefits of soy protein. This statement is 
intended to outline the facts concerning soy protein, heart health and 
the recent AHA report.

Newswise — A recent report of the Nutrition Committee of the American 
Heart Association (AHA) has caused some confusion about the heart health 
benefits of soy protein, and some media stories have misrepresented the 
report’s findings. This statement is intended to outline the facts 
concerning soy protein and heart health.

FACT: Experts Agree Soy Protein Lowers Cholesterol

The AHA research review found that soy protein lowers blood cholesterol 
above and beyond that realized from a low fat, low cholesterol diet. 
This finding is consistent with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration 
(FDA) recognizing that soy protein lowers cholesterol by between 3 and 8 
percent.

FACT: Experts Agree Soy Protein Has Additional Heart Health Benefits

The AHA report noted that soy foods are heart healthy because of their 
high content of polyunsaturated fats, fiber, vitamins, minerals and low 
content of saturated fat, making them an ideal substitute for less 
healthy foods that are high in saturated fat and cholesterol. The FDA 
and, similarly, the AHA have agreed that soy foods appear to modestly 
lower triglycerides and raise HDL (“Good”) blood cholesterol levels.

FACT: Seven Governments Recognize the Heart Health Benefits of Soy

Authorities around the world have approved health claims supporting the 
consumption of soy protein and a lowering of blood cholesterol, 
including the USA, Korea, Japan, Brazil, Philippines, Indonesia and the 
United Kingdom. These claims were approved based on an extensive review 
of scientific literature to determine that the relationship between soy 
protein and lowered cholesterol was well established. It’s the weight of 
this scientific evidence that led so many government health authorities 
to approve soy/heart health claims.

FACT: Soy Protein is a Food, Not a Prescription Drug

Soy foods have the unique ability to both lower LDL (“Bad”) cholesterol 
and lower triglycerides, but not to the degree expected from 
cholesterol-lowering medications. That soy products have been found to 
lower blood cholesterol even a small amount, however, has the potential 
to dramatically impact public health. One may argue whether a 3 – 8 
percent reduction in cholesterol is “clinically significant,” but the 
bottom line is that heart disease depends on small life changes. Neither 
pharmaceuticals nor soy foods are by themselves panaceas for a healthy 
heart.

FACT: Research into Soy Protein and Heart Health Will Continue

Physicians have known for many years that lifestyle change helps prevent 
heart attack and stroke. Only recently, however, have scientists begun 
to study how a diet rich in soy protein helps lower cholesterol. In 
1999, The Solae Company successfully petitioned the FDA to issue an 
unqualified health claim for soy protein and coronary heart disease. Our 
company will continue to invest in nutrition research that helps 
consumers make more informed decisions about what they eat.
-- 
Kathrynne Holden, MS, RD < fivestar at nutritionucanlivewith.com >
"Ask the Parkinson Dietitian"  http://www.parkinson.org/
"Eat well, stay well with Parkinson's disease"
"Parkinson's disease: Guidelines for Medical Nutrition Therapy"
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