Soy protein better for improving cholesterol health

A new study has revealed that supplements of soy protein are much better than milk protein in terms of improving blood levels of HDL (good) cholesterol and thus the overall lipid profile in healthy individuals.

The study, which has been published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, investigated the effect of soy and milk protein supplementation on lipids compared with carbohydrate among healthy adults.

Numerous research studies have demonstrated that soy protein reduces LDL (‘the bad’) cholesterol and increases HDL (‘the good’) cholesterol, supporting the soy protein heart health and cholesterol-lowering claim that is approved in 12 countries around the globe.

“Coronary heart disease (CHD) is a major health epidemic, as the No. 1 killer of women and men globally,” said Elaine Krul, Ph.D., nutrition discovery lead at Solae.

“Research has shown that lowering blood lipids reduces the risk of coronary heart disease and stroke.”

“The results of this study reveal that soy protein supplementation intake can help lower blood lipids, thus helping to reduce the risk of CHD in healthy individuals.”

In this study, total cholesterol reduction as well as the total/HDL cholesterol ratio reduction was statistically significant with soy protein supplementation compared with carbohydrate.

Compared with milk protein, soy protein supplementation significantly increased HDL and significantly reduced total/HDL cholesterol ratio as well as lowered LDL cholesterol.