Soy may benefit stroke patients

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Soy may benefit stroke patients

 

Posted by: " Dly Plzr "

dlyplzr

 

 

dlyplzr

 

 

 

Sat Jan 24, 2009 2:53 am (PST)

 

 

Soy may benefit stroke patients

 

 

 

http://news. bbc.co.uk/ 2/hi/health/ 7631407.stm

 

http://newsvote. bbc.co.uk/ mpapps/pagetools /print/news. bbc.co.uk/

2/hi/health/ 7631407.stm

 

 

 

A chemical found in soybeans and chickpeas could benefit people who have

suffered a stroke, say researchers.

 

 

 

The University of Hong Kong team say the treatment effect of the

chemical, isoflavone, is comparable to that of cholesterol- busting

statin drugs.

 

 

 

The European Heart Journal study showed isoflavone helped improve blood flow

through the arteries.

 

 

 

Previous research has suggested that eating soy may help prevent breast and

prostate cancer and lower cholesterol.

 

 

 

Protective effect

 

 

 

Soya isoflavones in particular have been shown to reduce cardiovascular

disease risk as they inhibit the growth of cells that form

artery-clogging plaque.

 

 

 

All of the 102 patients in the latest trial had suffered a first or

recurrent ischaemic stroke -caused by a blood clot - in the previous

six months and had established heart disease.

 

 

 

The patients were split into two groups, with one receiving a 12-week

course of isoflavone as an 80mg daily dietary supplement, and the other

given a dummy pill or placebo.

 

 

 

The scientists measured the way the brachial artery - the main artery

of the arm - dilated in response to an increase in blood flow.

 

 

 

This measurement, the flow-mediated dilatation (FMD), is an indicator

of the functioning of the cells that line the inner surfaces of blood

vessels - the endothelium - which are implicated in cardiovascular

disease.

 

 

 

At the start of the study the prevalence of impaired FMD was similar between the

two groups.

 

 

 

But after 12 weeks, the FMD improved significantly in the patients given the

isoflavone supplement.

 

 

 

High-soy diet

 

 

 

Lead researcher Professor Hung-Fat Tse said: " These findings suggest that

isoflavone reverses endothelial dysfunction. "

 

 

 

He said there were important clinical implications, as the benefit of

the treatment was conferred to the group of patients with the highest

risks for cardiovascular events, and the effect persisted, even at a

rather late stage of disease.

 

 

 

Professor Tse said it was too early to recommend the use of isoflavone

supplements.

 

 

 

But he said: " Diets with higher isoflavone contents might be beneficial

in reducing cardiovascular risk in ischaemic stroke patients. "

 

 

 

He said the mechanism by which isoflavone produces these changes in FMD were

still not completely understood.

 

 

 

Isoflavone is a major class of phytoestrogens, naturally occurring

chemicals that mimic the effect of the human hormone oestrogen.

Oestrogen is known to protect against heart disease.

 

 

 

Dr Peter Coleman from The Stroke Association said: " This is an

important and interesting study showing that dietary supplementation

with isoflavones in people who have had a stroke may reduce their risk

of further stroke or cardiovascular disease.

 

 

 

" Whilst this is a positive finding, it was a small study and further

research is needed to discover how plant isoflavones could reduce

stroke risk. "