Heart Health Claim for Soy Protein on Food Labels

In October of 1999 the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced the approval of a new health claim for use on food labels, advising the consumer about the relationship between soy protein and a reduced risk of coronary heart disease ³⁰ .

The FDA examined the evidence from 53 clinical trials and took into account comments from the public and other interested parties before making their decision. The ruling recommends that people who want to lower their cholesterol levels and reduce their risk of heart disease should consume 25g of soy protein per day, which can be obtained by eating three to four serves of foods high in soy protein.

Food products that contain at least 6.25g of soy protein per serving are permitted to feature the following claim:

"25 grams of soy protein a day, as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol may reduce the risk of heart disease. A serving of (name of food) supplies________ grams of soy protein."

The FDA approval is an important endorsement of the overwhelming evidence that foods high in soy protein have major heart health benefits.

The American Heart Association (AHA) also recommends soy foods as part of a heart healthy diet because of their high content of polyunsaturated fats, fibre, vitamins and minerals and low content of saturated fat. The most recent advisory to health professionals by the AHA (2006) on soy protein, isoflavones and cardiovascular health, however, concluded that the cholesterol lowering ability of soy foods is, on average, approximately 3.0% ³¹ . This determination is not in line with the findings of the most recent meta-analyses, which conclude that soy's cholesterol lowering capacity, although probably overestimated in the past, is around 5.0%.