Soy Protein

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What is it? 1

The term "soy" is used to refer to many products derived from the soybean. In terms of health and wellness, the two most important dietary supplements derived from soybeans are isolated/concentrated soy proteins and soy extracts which contain a high amount of compounds called isoflavones. The isoflavones have been associated with a wide variety of beneficial health effects including protection from cancer and osteoporosis to reduction in hot flashes and other symptoms of menopause. Soy protein, which may or may not contain a high level of isoflavones (depending on how it is processed) has been associated with a reduction in serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels and may protect against the development of coronary heart disease.

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What is it?
Claims
Theory
Scientific Support
Safety
Value
Dosage

Claims 2

Reduces cholesterol and triglyceride levels	Reduces risk of heart disease
Suppresses menopausal symptoms (hot flashes)	Reduces bone breakdown (osteoporosis)

Theory 3

Depending on the method of processing, many soy foods contain a relatively high content of chemical compounds called isoflavones, which possess weak estrogen-like effects. Under conditions of high estrogen exposure, which may promote certain cancers, the isoflavone compounds tend to block the adverse effects of estrogen and may prevent growth of cancer cells. Under conditions of low estrogen exposure, such as during menopause, the isoflavones tend to act as weak estrogens, which may be just enough to help alleviate some of the symptoms associated with menopause, such as hot flashes, headaches and mood swings.

Scientific Support 4

In general, soybeans, like most legumes, have a high protein content (35-40% for whole soybeans). After processing, protein powders composed of soy concentrate provide about 70% protein, while the even more concentrated protein source, soy isolate may contain close to 90% protein. As a protein source, soy tends to be somewhat low in the sulfur-containing amino acids such as cysteine and methionine. This has led to the perception that soy protein is a less desirable source of dietary protein than those foods with higher sulfur content, such as meat, milk and eggs. When the digestibility of the protein is taken into account, however, isolated soy protein scores on par with egg white and milk proteins. Consumption of soy foods and soy proteins has been associated with beneficial health effects for heart disease, osteoporosis, cancer and menopausal symptoms. It is still unclear, however, whether these effects are due to the displacement of animal protein with vegetable protein or the combination of soy protein with the phytonutrients known as isoflavones.

Product Recommendations

The powerful, energy-giving ingredients of Source of Life have been expanded to include high quality soy protein.
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As with Source of Life Tablets, you will experience a "Burst of Energy." Source of Life has a perfect blend of vitamins, minerals, lipids, bioflavonoids, enzymes, plant pigments, amino acids, nucleic acids and herbs. Whole brown rice, spirulina, bee pollen, young barley leaves, sunflower oil, carrots and black currant seeds are other ingredients which offer the most health-giving, life-supporting nutrients. All these have been ingeniously combined in this formula to create powerful, synergistic effects that will result in a "Burst of Energy" you'll want to experience every day!

Soy Pro-90 is formulated with 90% Soy Protein Isolate yielding 24 grams of protein per serving and only 1 gram of fat. Soy Pro-90 is a rich source of naturally occuring phytosterols, saponins and the valuable isoflavones genistein and daidzein.
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Isoflavones

Soy is the richest dietary source of isoflavones. Typical soyfoods like tofu might provide 1-4 mg/g or about 40-100 mg of isoflavones per ounce. Soymilk provides about 100-150 mg of isoflavones per 8-ounce glass. The isoflavones function as phytoestrogens in the body, where they possess weak estrogen-like effects. The two primary isoflavones found in soy are daidzein and genistein, both of which have been associated with the health benefits mentioned above. The chemical structure of isoflavones is similar enough to that of estrogen so that they can bind to the estrogen receptor on cells, yet different enough so that they only perform very weak estrogen effects. For the different soy-based protein powders on the market, the isoflavone content can vary significantly, from almost zero for those products extracted using alcohol, to certified levels of 2-5 mg per gram of protein. In many Asian countries, where the incidence of heart disease, cancer and menopausal symptoms is low, the daily isoflavone intake is estimated at 25-50 mg per day- in contrast, the average Western intake is less than 5 mg per day.

Heart Protection

Results from a number of studies show the cholesterol-lowering benefits of including soy protein in the diet. Drops in total cholesterol, LDL and triglycerides, with no lowering of HDL (good) cholesterol levels, has been shown with soy protein intakes of 25-50 grams per day, typically taken in 2-4 divided doses throughout the day. Such intakes have also been shown to reduce the susceptibility of the LDL particles to become oxidized, which is thought to be a crucial step that promotes cholesterol buildup on artery walls.

Cancer Risk

Epidemiological studies have suggested that Asian diets may provide protection from several cancers, including those of the breast, prostate gland and colon. As mentioned above, the action of isoflavones as weak estrogens allows them to bind to estrogen receptors and block some of the detrimental effects of estrogen – such as promotion of cancer cell growth. Tamoxifen, a prescription drug for treating breast cancer, is though to act as an anti-estrogen by binding to the estrogen receptor and "blocking" the growth-promoting effects of estrogen in cancer cells. Women using tamoxifen have a lower incidence of breast cancer and a 30-40% reduction in breast cancer cell growth rate. The isoflavones in soy are chemically similar to tamoxiphen and, therefore, may also reduce the risk of hormone-dependent cancers via the same "estrogen-blocking" mechanism

Bone Health

Soy protein consumption has been shown to reduce bone loss and slow calcium loss in an animal model of osteoporosis, suggesting a possible beneficial role in preventing osteoporosis in humans. A diet high in soy protein has been shown to improve bone density after six months. In addition, soybeans contain a relatively high calcium content, a large portion of which may be retained in soy protein powders. It is also interesting to note that soy protein seems to cause less loss of calcium from the body compared to other dietary sources of protein, which may promote calcium loss and bone breakdown at high levels. Ipriflavone, a synthetic isoflavone drug prescribed in Europe, is metabolized in the body into daidzein, and has potent effects on reducing bone resorption in postmenopausal women.

Safety 4

Dietary consumption of soy-based protein concentrate or soy isolate is not associated with any significant side effects aside from the mild gastrointestinal issues (bloating, flatulence) associated with any high protein diet. High dose intake of concentrated isoflavone extracts are probably safe at levels up to at least 200 mg per day (the estimated amount contained in the average Japanese diet). Since the long term effects of isolated isoflavone supplements is unknown and the potential for pro-estrogenic effects may exist for mega-dose isoflavone consumption, it is prudent to keep total isoflavone intake close to those levels found in dietary amounts.

Value 6

As a high quality protein source, soy-based protein powders provide an excellent amino acid profile along with the added health benefits for heart health, cancer protection, bone maintenance and, in postmenopausal women, relief from menopausal symptoms.

For those women who cannot or choose not to select hormone replacement therapy following menopause, isoflavone supplements may provide an effective alternative to treating some of the symptoms associated with menopause, including hot flashes, night sweats, headaches, vaginal dryness and mood swings.

Dosage 7

As a protein supplement – as needed. (Typical protein recommendations are 1-2 grams of protein per kg of body weight).
For heart health, 25-50 grams of soy protein isolate per day is effective in reducing cholesterol and triglyceride levels.
For menopausal symptoms, 25-50 mg of isoflavones per day is effective in alleviating some of the symptoms associated with menopause (e.g. hot flashes). Do not exceed more than 200 mg per day.