Consumption of Soymilk Reduces Lipid Peroxidation But May Lower Micronutrient Status in Apparently Healthy Individuals.

Consumption of soy products is speculated to reduce the risk and progression of some disease conditions. The underlying mechanisms mediating this effect are uncertain, but the lowering of oxidative stress has been suggested. This study was aimed at investigating the effect of soymilk on antioxidant status and lipid peroxidation in apparently healthy individuals. Five hundred milliliters of soymilk was taken daily by each of 39 apparently healthy individuals for a period of 28 days. Two sets of blood samples (baseline and after 28 days of soymilk intake) were collected and assayed for total antioxidant capacity (TAC), malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione S-transferase (GST), manganese (Mn) and zinc (Zn) levels, using standard methods. Consumption of soymilk significantly increased serum TAC and reduced serum MDA when compared with baseline values (P < .001, P < .001 respectively). The decrease in MDA concentration was significantly contributed by the women (P < .001). Mean serum Mn was also significantly reduced (P = .03) when compared with baseline values. There were no changes in serum Zn concentration and the activity of SOD enzyme. The serum GST activity was significantly increased in men (P = .02) and significantly reduced in women (P < .001) in comparison with their corresponding baseline values. Daily consumption of soymilk enhanced antioxidant status and this led to reduced lipid peroxidation. It also resulted in a significant reduction of Mn. The dietary use of soymilk as an adjuvant to supplement meals seems beneficial health wise. However, soymilk should be taken with caution as it could result in micronutrient deficiency.

Evaluation of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and serum lipid profile in southeastern Nigerian women with pre-eclampsia.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the serum C-reactive protein (CRP) and lipid profile in women with pre-eclampsia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-five women with and 35 women without pre-eclampsia, who were in the 3rd trimester of pregnancy, were enrolled in this study. Weight in kilogrammes and height in metres were measured to calculate the mean body mass index (BMI) for each group. The diastolic and systolic blood pressures were measured. Lipid profile tests and serum CRP assay were done for all patients. Total cholesterol, triglycerides (TG) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) were determined using enzymatic methods, while low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) was calculated using Friedewald's formula. RESULTS: The mean values of the BMI were 29.47 ± 6.90 versus 26.14 ± 2.92, of the diastolic blood pressure 109.14 ± 15.41 versus 72.29 ± 9.42 mm Hg and of the systolic blood pressure 170.57 ± 19.55 versus 120.86 ± 17.72 mm Hg for women with and without pre-eclampsia, respectively, and the differences were statistically significant (p = 0.012, p = 0.001 and p = 0.001, respectively). The biochemical analysis also indicated that the women with pre-eclampsia had a significantly higher mean serum CRP (8.57 ± 2.68 vs. 6.46 ± 2.46 mg/l, p = 0.001), TG (2.84 ± 0.45 vs. 1.87 ± 0.38 mmol/l, p = 0.001) and total cholesterol (5.59 ± 0.92 vs. 4.63 ± 0.78 mmol/l, p = 0.001) level but a lower mean HDL-C (1.10 ± 0.12 vs. 1.26 ± 0.15 mmol/l, p = 0.001) level than the controls. There was no statistical difference in the mean LDL-C values between the 2 groups (1.58 ± 0.8 vs. 1.45 ± 0.78 mmol/l, p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Significant changes in CRP as well as TG, total cholesterol and HDL-C were associated with pre-eclampsia in these Southeastern Nigerian women.

Coffee consumption could affect the activity of some liver enzymes and other biochemical parameters in healthy drinkers.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of coffee consumption on some liver function indices in adult male and female Nigerians. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Thirty apparently healthy subjects, consisting of 18 men and 12 women, were made to consume 2 g of coffee daily for a total of 30 days. Activities of aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and plasma concentrations of total and conjugated bilirubin, total protein and albumin were determined using standard methods. RESULTS: Relative to baseline values, coffee consumption raised mean levels of ALT by 4 IU/l (p < 0.001), AST by 2.0 1 U/l (p < 0.001), ALP by 3.0 1 U/l (p < 0.01), total bilirubin by 0.90 mg/dl (p < 0.05) and total protein by 1.1 g/l (p < 0.05). Gender differences were observed. Significantly higher mean ALP concentration was only seen in male subjects, while mean bilirubin concentration was significantly raised in female volunteers alone. On the other hand, the mean total protein and albumin concentrations in individual male and female groups were not significantly altered (p > 0.05 in each case). CONCLUSION: The result obtained from the study suggests that short-term consumption of coffee might have a significant effect on the integrity of the liver function tests studied.

Consumption of soymilk lowers atherogenic lipid fraction in healthy individuals.

The effect of soy-based products on lipid profile has not been well established. Whereas some investigators have reported that soy is hypocholesterolemic, others could only demonstrate this in hypercholesterolemic subjects, while a few have not found any marked association between soy and cholesterol levels. This study was therefore aimed at investigating the effect of soymilk on lipid and lipoprotein profile of normocholesterolemic, apparently healthy Nigerian Africans. Five hundred milliliters of soymilk preparation was consumed daily by 42 apparently healthy young to middle-aged subjects for a period of 21 days. Forty-two other volunteers with similar characteristics, who did not drink the soymilk over this time frame, were randomly selected as controls. Plasma total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C), and triglyceride (TG) concentrations were determined twice by standard spectrophotometric methods (at the initial visit and after 3 weeks). Low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) was calculated from the TC, TG, and HDL-C concentrations. After 21 days, regulated soymilk consumption significantly reduced mean plasma TC by 11% and LDL-C by 25% (P < .001 and P < .001, respectively) and increased mean plasma HDL-C by 20% (P < .05) in the test population. Plasma TG was not significantly altered. In control subjects, no significant differences were observed in mean TC, LDL-C, HDL-C, and TG. Daily consumption of soymilk significantly decreased atherogenic plasma cholesterol concentration. This suggests that soy drink could be an important non-pharmacological cholesterol-reducing agent.