The fat content of soyabeans is approximately 20%. The soybean contains a heart-healthy balance of fatty acids, high in polyunsaturated fat (78% of total fat primarily in the form of linoleic acid) and low in saturated fat (15% of total fat).23, 24 Of course, linoleic acid when substituted for saturated fat reduces blood cholesterol levels. Furthermore, the soybean is one of the few good plant sources of the essential fatty acid, alpha-linolenic acid (ALA),25 an omega-3 fatty acid that may have independent coronary benefits.26 An epidemiologic analysis conducted by Dutch researchers in 2004, found that high-consumers of ALA were 20% less like to die of coronary heart disease (CHD) than low-consumers of this fatty acid.26 Importantly, the difference in intake between the high and low ALA-consumers is an amount provided by just three cups of soymilk.

In 2006, the American Heart Association in the United States highlighted the important role that soyfoods can play in displacing higher-saturated-fat foods from the diet thereby helping to lower blood cholesterol levels.22. The excellent fatty acid composition of soya offers a lot of advantages. Poly-unsaturated fatty acids exert a cholesterol lowering effect, mainly on LDL-cholesterol, they also decrease the triglyceride level (see table).

Cholesterol

Soya doesn’t contain any cholesterol and fits perfectly into a cholesterol lowering diet. Because of persuasive evidence, the American Food and Drug Administration and the British Joint Health Claim Initiative approved the health claim that “Intake of 25 grams of soya protein a day, as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol, may reduce the risk of heart disease” . To read more about this positive health effect of soya, click here.

References :

1. USDA Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, Release 17. 2004. Nutrient Data Laboratory Home Page, http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/foodcomp
2. Brouwer IA, Katan MB, Zock PL. Dietary alpha-linolenic acid is associated with reduced risk of fatal coronary heart disease, but increased prostate cancer risk: a meta-analysis. J Nutr 2004;134(4):919-22
3. FDA. Food labelling, Health Claims; Soya Protein and Coronary Heart Disease – Final rule. Federal Register 1999; 64: 57699-57733.
4. www.jhci.co.uk