Soy may prevent diabetes, heart disease for women with PCOS

According to a study published in the Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, consuming soy may be beneficial to improve metabolic and cardiovascular health in women who have polycystic ovary syndrome.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common condition that affects how a woman's ovaries work. Woman with PCOS experience irregular periods, high levels of "male hormones" in the body, and polycystic ovaries that become enlarged and contain many fluid-filled sacs that surround the eggs.

PCOS is the leading cause - responsible for 70 percent - of femaleinfertility issues and increases a woman's risk of serious health conditions such as insulin resistance, which elevates the risk oftype 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

PCOS is also associated with metabolic syndrome that contributes to both diabetes and heart disease.

Around 5-10 percent of women of childbearing age are affected by PCOS, with less than 50 percent of women diagnosed. Studies have shown that around 40 percent of patients with diabetes and glucose intolerance between the ages of 20-50 have PCOS. In the United States, PCOS affects an estimated 5-6 million women.

Could soy isoflavones protect against certain conditions?

The study - conducted by the Endocrinology and Metabolism Research Center, Arak University of Medical Sciences, and Research Center for Biochemistry and Nutrition in Metabolic Diseases, Kashan University of Medical Sciences in Iran - examined how a diet containing soy isoflavones could benefit women with PCOS.

Soy isoflavones are naturally occurring, plant-based estrogens found in the soybean plant. They are often found in foods such as soymilk, as well as supplements.

There is growing interest in using soy isoflavones in diseases related to metabolic syndrome. Surveys and nutritional intervention studies have suggested that dietary isoflavones have protective effects against menopausal symptoms, coronary heart disease, cancer, hyperlipidemia, osteoporosis, and various forms of chronic renal disease.

The trial, led by Mehri Jamilian and Zatollah Asemi, Ph.D., was performed on 70 women diagnosed with PCOS aged between 18-40 years. The women were referred to the Kosar Clinic in Arak, Iran, between December 2015 and February 2016.

Participants were allocated into two groups taking either 50 milligrams of soy isoflavones or placebo every day for 12 weeks. The amount of soy is equivalent to the amount in 500 milliliters of soymilk.

Metabolic, endocrine, inflammation, and oxidative stress biomarkers were observed in blood samples at the beginning of the study and after the 12-week intervention. The women were instructed to maintain current levels of exercise and to avoid taking other nutritional supplements for the duration of the research.

Soy decreased insulin resistance risk, harmful cholesterol levels

Compared with the placebo group, soy isoflavone administration significantly decreased circulating levels of insulin and other biological markers associated with insulin resistance - a condition whereby the body's tissues are resistant to the effects of insulin, which can lead to type 2 diabetes.

Supplementation with soy isoflavones also resulted in significant reductions in testosterone, harmful cholesterol known as low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and triglycerides - or fats in the blood - than their counterparts who received the placebo.

"Our research found that women who have PCOS may benefit from incorporating soy isoflavones in their diets," says Asemi, of Kashan University of Medical Sciences.