Effect of soy isoflavones on circulating C-reactive protein in postmenopausal women: meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

​Consistent consumption of soy isoflavones is associated with a decline in plasma concentrations of C-reactive protein in postmenopausal women.

Elevated serum level of C-reactive protein (CRP) is one of the risk factors for cardiovascular disease. This study examined the effect of generous intake of isoflavones from soy foods on plasma concentrations of C-reactive proteins in postmenopausal women. Researchers analyzed nutritional, clinical, and biochemical data obtained from 14 randomized controlled trials published in PubMed, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and ClinicalTrials.gov databases.

Researchers discovered that the amounts of C-reactive protein floating in the blood of postmenopausal women decreased as the consumption of isoflavones from soy foods increased. This results of this study further strengthen the body of evidence that postmenopausal women with elevated blood level of C-reactive protein can reduce the concentrations of this biomarker of cardiovascular disease by consuming diets rich in soy foods.