Abstract
It has been suggested that soy protein can slow renal disease progression by decreasing plasma cholesterol and proteinuria in patients with nephropathies. This study was designed to evaluate the effect of soy protein on proteinuria and dyslipidemia, in patients with proteinuric glomerulopathies. Patients were divided into three groups: Control Group (n = 9) received diet with 0.8 g/kg/day of animal protein; Study Group 1 (n = 9), 0.8 g/kg/day of soy protein; and Group 2 (n = 9), 0.8 g/kg/day of soy protein plus fibers. The study period corresponded to eight weeks. During the baseline period and by the end of the study, patients were submitted to laboratorial and anthropometric evaluation. There was no statistically significant difference between baseline and post-diet periods among the three groups in anthropometric parameters or body composition, neither in proteinuria levels (Control: 0.7 ± 0.6 versus 0.8 ± 0.6; Group 1: 2.0 ± 1.7 versus 1.9 ± 1.8; Group 2: 2.0 ± 1.4 versus 2.1 ± 2.0). However, a slight decrease in triglycerides (244.8 ± 275.9 versus 200.5 ± 34.0), total (234.0 ± 59.4 versus 181.2 ± 110.3) and LDL (136.0 ± 59.1 versus 104.1 ± 39.4) cholesterol in Group 1 was observed, although not significant. We have not observed beneficial effects when using soy protein instead of animal protein with the aim of attenuating proteinuria and hyperlipidemia, but we have shown that soy protein has not caused deleterious changes in body composition, ensuring an adequate nutritional state.
Highlights
It has been suggested that soy protein can slow renal disease progression by decreasing plasma cholesterol and proteinuria in patients with nephropathies
The oligosaccharides present in soy are responsible by part of its peculiar profile, as they are not hydrolyzed in the bowel, being fermented to short chain fatty acids that inhibit the cholesterol synthesis
Different studies have shown that the use of soy protein may slow progression of chronic renal disease[8,21] by decreasing hyperfiltration and proteinuria.[22]
Summary
It has been suggested that soy protein can slow renal disease progression by decreasing plasma cholesterol and proteinuria in patients with nephropathies. Homeostatic mechanisms are unable to cope with such urinary protein losses, and the resulting hypoalbuminemia frequently leads to edema.[1,2] The glomerular damage that is characteristic of NS can result in urinary loss of lipids and other plasma proteins, including some of the apolipoproteins.[3] Another important feature of the NS is hyperlipidemia characterized by increased plasma concentrations of very-low-density (VLDL), intermediatedensity, low-density lipoproteins (LDL) and, as the disorder progresses, by hypertriglyceridemia and decreased concentrations of high-density lipoproteins (HDL). Such lipid abnormalities may predispose to more rapid progression of the renal disease.[4] correction of lipid abnormalities or their prevention when possible, in patients with nephrotic syndrome, could be a protective factor against its progression
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