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A mild favorable effect of soy protein with isoflavones on body composition—a 6-month double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trial among Chinese postmenopausal women

International Journal of Obesity volume 34, pages 309–318 (2010)Cite this article

Abstract

Background:

In vitro and animal studies suggested that soy protein and isoflavones promote weight and body fat loss. However, clinical trials in humans were few and the effects remained uncertain.

Objectives:

To examine whether soy protein with isoflavones and isoflavone extracts exert beneficial effects on body composition among postmenopausal women.

Design:

A double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trial was conducted among 180 postmenopausal Chinese women with mild hyperglycemia. After a 2-week adaptation, participants were randomly assigned to one of the three arms to receive 15 g soy protein and 100 mg isoflavones (Soy group), or 15 g milk protein and 100 mg isoflavones (Iso group), or 15 g milk protein (placebo group) on a daily basis for 6 months.

Results:

We observed a mild but significant favorable effect of soy protein with isoflavones on the changes of body weight (BW), body mass index, and body fat percentage relative to isoflavone extracts and milk protein after 6-month supplementation. The mean differences of BW between the Soy and the Iso groups were −0.75 kg (95% CI: −1.363 to −0.136, P=0.017), and between the Soy and the placebo groups were −0.60 kg (95% CI: −1.209 to −0.019, P=0.047). The mean difference of change percentage in body fat percentage between the Soy and the Iso groups was −3.74% (95% CI: −6.88 to −0.60%, P=0.02), and between the Soy and the placebo groups was −2.54% (95% CI: −5.69 to 0.12%. P=0.08).

Conclusions:

Six-month supplementation of soy protein with isoflavones had a mild favorable effect on body composition in postmenopausal women.

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Acknowledgements

We acknowledge University Grant Council of Hong Kong for the funding support and Solbar industries Ltd (Israel) for supplying the raw materials of isoflavones and isolated soy protein for this study. The trial was supported by grant from the University Grant Council with grant ID CUHK4450/06 M and registered at clinicaltrials.gov with reg. no. NCT00856882.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Public Health and Primary Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR

    Z-m Liu, S C Ho & Y-m Chen

  2. Center of Research and Promotion of Women’s Health, School of Public Health and Primary Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR

    Z-m Liu, S C Ho & Y-m Chen

  3. Department of Medical Statistical and Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China

    Y-m Chen

  4. School of Pharmacy, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR

    Y P Ho

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Correspondence to S C Ho.

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Liu, Zm., Ho, S., Chen, Ym. et al. A mild favorable effect of soy protein with isoflavones on body composition—a 6-month double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trial among Chinese postmenopausal women. Int J Obes 34, 309–318 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1038/ijo.2009.236

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