Soy products can reduce the risk of diabetes and cardiovascular diseases in women with polycystic ovary syndrome.

This is evidenced by the results of a new study, outlined in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS, PCOS) is a common disease, accounting for up to 70% of all cases of female infertility. Doctors have long known that polycystic ovary increases the risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, heart attack, stroke.

According to statistics, about 5-10% of women of childbearing age suffer polycystic ovaries, and only half of the sick women are diagnosed. In the US, the number of patients is estimated at 5-6 million.

Recent studies show that 40% of women with diabetes mellitus and impaired glucose tolerance at the age of 20-50 suffer from PCOS. These eloquent figures speak for themselves.

Is soy isoflavones protecting the heart?.

Recently, the staff of the Center for Metabolism and Endocrinology Studies at the Medical University of Arak (Iran) together with colleagues from the Center for Nutrition and Biochemistry of Metabolic Diseases of the Medical University of Kashan conducted an interesting study. They proved the prophylactic properties of soy isoflavones in PCOS.

Recall that isoflavones - an extensive group of plant substances that occur in many medicinal plants and differ in their chemical structure. Soy isoflavones are considered highly active phytoestrogens, that is, analogs of the female sex hormone estrogen.

In the scientific community, in recent years there has been growing interest in soy isoflavones, which they are trying to use in the metabolic syndrome and related diseases.

Authoritative Western scientists claim that food products with soy isoflavones (soy milk, tofu) protect against coronary heart disease, hyperlipidemia, osteoporosis and chronic kidney disease, and alleviate the symptoms of menopause.

Soy reduces cholesterol and glucose.

Dr. Mehri Jamilian and Zatollah Asemi observed 70 patients with polycystic ovary age 18 to 40 years.

The study was conducted on the basis of the Kosar Clinic in Arak from December 2015 to February 2016.

Participants were divided into 2 groups: the first took 50 mg of soy isoflavones daily, and the second group received a placebo. Nobody knew about the composition of their pills. The treatment lasted 12 consecutive weeks.

The authors explained that 50 mg of purified soy isoflavones are equivalent to 0.5 liters of soy milk.

Throughout the study, women were tested for markers of inflammation, metabolic syndrome, oxidative stress. Participants had to follow the usual way of life, do not change the diet and do not take any dietary supplements to prevent distortion of the results of the study.

The group, which took soy isoflavones on a daily basis, managed to achieve a significant reduction in the level of insulin and other biological markers of insulin resistance. In other words, their body is much better at absorbing glucose, requiring less insulin and not overloading the pancreas.

The intake of isoflavones in the first group caused a clinically significant decrease in testosterone, "bad" cholesterol (LDL) and triglyceride levels compared to the group that was on placebo.

Unfortunately, soy isoflavones did not have a significant effect on other lipids, as well as on markers of oxidative stress and inflammation.

"Our study confirmed that women with polycystic ovaries should be fed food and dietary supplements containing soy isoflavones. This is the first work in the world demonstrating a change in the biological markers of insulin resistance under the influence of these substances, "Zatolla Acemi, a university press release,.

medbe. en.