USA - Humble Soy Has Big Effect On Lowering Blood Pressure, Study

Soy products, popular in Asian diets, have been shown to be beneficial in helping young adults lower their blood pressure.

The new research, conducted by Safiya Richardson, a graduating medical student at Columbia University’s College of Physicians and Surgeons and the study’s lead investigator, was recently presented at the American College of Cardiology’s 61st Annual Scientific Session.

“What’s unique about this study is that the results are very applicable to the general population. Our results strongly suggest a blood pressure benefit for moderate amounts of dietary isoflavone intake in young black and white adults,” said Richardson.

Isoflavones, a key compound in soy milk, tofu, green tea, and even peanuts, are thought to work by increasing the production of enzymes that create nitric oxide (NO), a substance that helps to dilate or widen blood vessels, thereby reducing the pressure created by blood against the vessel walls.

The study found that compared to those consuming less than 0.33 mg of isoflavones per day, participants reporting the most isoflavone intake (more than 2.5 mg per day) had a significantly lower systolic blood pressure (5.5 mmHg lower on average).

To help put this into context, an eight ounce glass of soy milk has about 22 mg of isoflavones, and 100 g of roasted soybeans have as much as 130 mg.

“This could mean that consuming soy protein, for example, in combination with a DASH diet – one that is high in fruits and vegetables, low-fat dairy and whole grains – could lead to as much as a 10 mmHg drop in systolic blood pressure for pre-hypertensives, greatly improving their chances of not progressing to hypertension,” said Richardson.

“Any dietary or lifestyle modification people can easily make that doesn’t require a daily medication is exciting, especially considering recent figures estimating that only about one third of American hypertensives have their blood pressure under control.”

Researchers analyzed data from the twentieth year of the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study, an NIH-funded study created to examine the development and determinants of cardiovascular disease. The twentieth year was the first year that the 5,115 African American and white American participants aged 18-30 years old completed an extensive dietary survey.

Even after controlling for age, sex, BMI, smoking, alcohol, physical activity, and total caloric intake, the relationship between daily isoflavones and lower systolic blood pressure remained.

Richardson says this study helps lay the groundwork for randomized controlled trials to help better understand the association between isoflavones and blood pressure.

Rebecca Lim

AsianScientist

Source: American College of Cardiology.

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