Soy protein isoflavones, lipids and arterial disease.

There is convincing evidence that soybean products have beneficial effects on cardiovascular disease risk factors. Interest in understanding which components of the soybean are responsible for the potential benefits on cardiovascular disease risk factors and the magnitude of their effect continues. This review focuses on the scientific literature published during 1999-2001, evaluating the effects of soy protein isolate, soy foods, and purified isoflavones on plasma lipid concentrations and other cardiovascular disease outcomes.