Depression of plasma cholesterol in men by consumption of baked products containing soy protein

Abstract

The effects of soy-protein consumption with and without soy fiber on plasma lipids in 26 mildly hypercholesterolemic men were studied. Four, 4-wk dietary treatments included 50 g protein and 20 g dietary fiber from soy flour (SF), isolated soy protein/soy cotyledon fiber (ISP/SCF), ISP/cellulose (ISP/C), or nonfat dry milk/C (NFDM/C) in conjunction with a low-fat, low-cholesterol diet. Plasma total cholesterol (TC) concentrations were lowest for both ISP dietary treatments compared with baseline (P < 0.05) and NFDM/C (P < 0.01). SF also led to lower TC compared with NFDM/C (P < 0.05). LDL-cholesterol values were lowest for both ISP treatments compared with NFDM/C (P < 0.01), but lower compared with baseline only with ISP/SCF (P < 0.05). Apolipoprotein B was lowest when ISP/C was fed, compared with baseline, SF, and NFDM (P < 0.05). HDL-cholesterol and total triglycerides (TG) were not affected. Results indicate that 50 g ISP is effective in lowering TC, LDL-C, and apolipoprotein B while maintaining HDL concentrations in mildly hypercholesterolemic men.