Soy Protein - NutraPedia

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Soy Protein: An Overview

1) Conditions Studied

Soy protein has been studied for a variety of health conditions, including but not limited to:

  • Cardiovascular diseases
  • High cholesterol levels
  • Menopausal symptoms
  • Weight management
  • Muscle building in athletes
  • Osteoporosis
  • Type 2 diabetes

2) Efficacy in Treating Conditions

Research on soy protein suggests that:

  • It may help lower cholesterol levels and improve heart health.
  • It could alleviate some menopausal symptoms.
  • It has potential benefits for weight management and muscle building.
  • It may have a positive effect on bone health.
  • Its impact on blood sugar control is still under investigation.

3) Health Benefits

Soy protein offers several health benefits, including:

  • Being a complete source of protein containing all essential amino acids.
  • Possibly reducing the risk of heart disease.
  • Being a plant-based protein option for vegetarians and vegans.
  • Having potential antioxidant properties.

4) Potential Downsides

While soy protein is generally considered safe for most people, there are some potential downsides:

  • Some individuals may experience allergies to soy.
  • Concerns about genetically modified soy and its health effects.
  • Phytoestrogens in soy may have mixed effects on hormone-sensitive conditions.
  • High consumption levels may cause digestive issues for some people.

5) Genetic Variations

The impact of soy protein may vary based on genetic differences:

  • Individuals with certain genetic variations may metabolize soy isoflavones differently.
  • Research on the interaction between soy protein and specific genetic variations is ongoing.
  • Genetic differences can affect the efficacy and safety of soy protein supplementation.

Soy Protein and Dietary Protein Research Summary

Impact of Soy Protein on Blood Sugar Levels

Consuming whey or soy protein half an hour before glucose intake can help maintain lower blood sugar levels post-meal, with whey protein being particularly effective at stabilizing them.

Comparison of Soy Protein to Other Protein Sources

  • The amino acid composition of soy protein isolates is similar to that of rice protein concentrates and isolates, but whey protein isolates contain more total amino acids, essential amino acids, and branched-chain amino acids.
  • Plant-based proteins like soy generally have lower essential amino acid contents compared to animal-based proteins and human skeletal muscle protein.

Protein Quality and Bone Health

  • Higher dietary protein intake may reduce the risk of hip fractures and has a slight positive effect on bone mineral density at the lumbar spine, though the effect on hip fracture risk is less clear.
  • Consuming protein above the recommended dietary allowance could be beneficial for maintaining bone mass and reducing the risk of hip fractures in the elderly.

Protein and Kidney Health

  • High protein diets do not adversely affect kidney function in healthy individuals, although protein restriction may benefit those with kidney disease.
  • Long-term kidney function remains well preserved after kidney donation, with only a slight increase in proteinuria.

Summary created based on various research studies on soy protein, dietary protein, and their impacts on health.

References:


  1. A meta-analysis of the effect of glucagon-like peptide-1 (7-36) amide on ad libitum energy intake in humans
  2. Dietary protein, weight loss, and weight maintenance
  3. The effects of high protein diets on thermogenesis, satiety and weight loss: a critical review
  4. Thermic effect of food and sympathetic nervous system activity in humans
  5. The role of protein in weight loss and maintenance
  6. Effects of energy-restricted high-protein, low-fat compared with standard-protein, low-fat diets: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
  7. High protein diets decrease total and abdominal fat and improve CVD risk profile in overweight and obese men and women with elevated triacylglycerol
  8. A controlled trial of protein enrichment of meal replacements for weight reduction with retention of lean body mass
  9. Effects of protein intake and gender on body composition changes: a randomized clinical weight loss trial
  10. Effects of protein vs. carbohydrate-rich diets on fuel utilisation in obese women during weight loss
  11. Effect of an energy-restricted, high-protein, low-fat diet relative to a conventional high-carbohydrate, low-fat diet on weight loss, body composition, nutritional status, and markers of cardiovascular health in obese women
  12. Increased consumption of dairy foods and protein during diet- and exercise-induced weight loss promotes fat mass loss and lean mass gain in overweight and obese premenopausal women
  13. Lean mass loss is associated with low protein intake during dietary-induced weight loss in postmenopausal women
  14. Effects of dietary protein on the composition of weight loss in post-menopausal women
  15. The effects of a higher protein intake during energy restriction on changes in body composition and physical function in older women
  16. Quality protein intake is inversely related with abdominal fat
  17. Short report: Relationship between quality protein, lean mass and bone health
  18. A systematic review, meta-analysis and meta-regression of the effect of protein supplementation on resistance training-induced gains in muscle mass and strength in healthy adults
  19. Evidence-based recommendations for optimal dietary protein intake in older people: a position paper from the PROT-AGE Study Group
  20. Effect of different protein types on second meal postprandial glycaemia in normal weight and normoglycemic subjects
  21. An increase in dietary protein improves the blood glucose response in persons with type 2 diabetes
  22. A carbohydrate-reduced high-protein diet improves HbA1c and liver fat content in weight stable participants with type 2 diabetes: a randomised controlled trial
  23. Diet acids and alkalis influence calcium retention in bone
  24. Nutritional disturbance in acid-base balance and osteoporosis: a hypothesis that disregards the essential homeostatic role of the kidney
  25. Meta-analysis of the effect of the acid-ash hypothesis of osteoporosis on calcium balance
  26. Dietary protein and calcium interact to influence calcium retention: a controlled feeding study
  27. The impact of dietary protein on calcium absorption and kinetic measures of bone turnover in women
  28. Causal assessment of dietary acid load and bone disease: a systematic review & meta-analysis applying Hill's epidemiologic criteria for causality
  29. Dietary protein and bone health: a systematic review and meta-analysis
  30. The relationship between dietary protein consumption and risk of fracture: a subgroup and dose-response meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies
  31. Dietary Protein Intake above the Current RDA and Bone Health: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
  32. High Versus low Dietary Protein Intake and Bone Health in Older Adults: a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
  33. Dietary protein and bone health: a systematic review and meta-analysis from the National Osteoporosis Foundation
  34. Effect of dietary protein on bone loss in elderly men and women: the Framingham Osteoporosis Study
  35. A 5-year cohort study of the effects of high protein intake on lean mass and BMC in elderly postmenopausal women
  36. Dietary protein intake and the progressive nature of kidney disease: the role of hemodynamically mediated glomerular injury in the pathogenesis of progressive glomerular sclerosis in aging, renal ablation, and intrinsic renal disease
  37. Changes in Kidney Function Do Not Differ between Healthy Adults Consuming Higher- Compared with Lower- or Normal-Protein Diets: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
  38. A Systematic Review of Renal Health in Healthy Individuals Associated with Protein Intake above the US Recommended Daily Allowance in Randomized Controlled Trials and Observational Studies
  39. Dietary protein intake and blood pressure: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
  40. Dietary protein intake and renal function
  41. Mechanisms of renal vasodilation and hyperfiltration during pregnancy
  42. Glomerular hyperfiltration
  43. Long-term followup of renal functional reserve capacity after unilateral nephrectomy in childhood
  44. Long-term consequence of nephrectomy
  45. Renal outcome 25 years after donor nephrectomy
  46. KDOQI Clinical Practice Guideline for Nutrition in CKD: 2020 Update
  47. Bacteria, colonic fermentation, and gastrointestinal health
  48. Branched-chain amino acids augment ammonia metabolism while attenuating protein breakdown during exercise
  49. Protein and amino acid requirements in human nutrition
  50. Amino Acid Composition of an Organic Brown Rice Protein Concentrate and Isolate Compared to Soy and Whey Concentrates and Isolates
  51. Protein content and amino acid composition of commercially available plant-based protein isolates
  52. The amino acid composition of mammalian collagen and gelatin
  53. Effects of whey and fortified collagen hydrolysate protein supplements on nitrogen balance and body composition in older women
  54. Collagen peptide supplementation in combination with resistance training improves body composition and increases muscle strength in elderly sarcopenic men: a randomised controlled trial
  55. Values for digestible indispensable amino acid scores (DIAAS) for some dairy and plant proteins may better describe protein quality than values calculated using the concept for protein digestibility-corrected amino acid scores (PDCAAS)


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