Long-term consumption of beef extended with soy protein by men, women and children: II. Effects on iron status.

The iron status of men, women and children consuming beef extended with soy protein was evaluated by measuring serum ferritin and clinical parameters of iron status during a six-month study. Fifty-two families (245 participants) were randomly assigned to consume, for 180 days, 1 of 7 beef products: all beef, beef extended with either soy isolate, soy concentrate or soy flour (20% reconstituted soy product, 80% beef), or beef extended with each of the three soy products fortified with 60 mg Fe and 25 mg Zn/100 g protein. The beef product was consumed by the subjects as their principal source of protein for 1 meal a day (children 1-18 yr) or 1-2 meals a day (11 per week; adult men and women). A control group consumed their usual self-selected diets. No evidence was found that consumption of beef extended with soy protein deleteriously affected the iron status of men, women or children. Consumption of beef extended with soy protein, at the levels used in this study, by military men and women and by school lunch participants would not appear to impose a risk in these population groups.

RCT Entities:   Population Interventions Outcomes