It is predicted that the percentage of adults suffering from type 2 diabetes will exceed the level of 30% within the next 50 years.
Obesity is considered a major risk factor for developing diabetes, as obesity increases the risk by more than ninety times. It is therefore important to determine if there are foods that can prevent or delay the onset of diabetes and related complications of the disease.
Epidemiological evidence linking soy consumption as a deterrent to type 2 diabetes is found mainly in Asian countries. The highest consumption of soy foods was inversely proportional to the presence of type 2 diabetes in Chinese men and women in Singapore.
Soy consumption was inversely proportional to the risk of developing type 2 diabetes in middle-aged Chinese women (Shanghai Study).
In contrast, a study by the Japan Public Health Study concluded that there was no benefit to consuming soy over the risk of developing diabetes.
However, soy consumption was inversely proportional to the risk of developing type 2 diabetes in overweight Japanese women.
A subsequent Hawaii Multiethnic Cohort Study in Hawaii showed no protective effect of soy consumption on the risk of developing diabetes in the general population.
However, soybean intake rates in Hawaii are lower than those in Asian countries. Therefore, the epidemiological data are not entirely clear but several studies conducted in Asian countries link soy as a deterrent to type 2 diabetes.
Kwak et al. Reported that soy peptide supplements improved control of glucose levels in people with pre-diabetic behavior, as well as in newly diagnosed people with type 2 diabetes. A soy diet improved glucose control in diabetic patients.
Soy consumption improved lipid profile in adults with type 2 diabetes but had no effect on insulin secretion in postmenopausal women without diabetes and did not improve glycemic control and insulin sensitivity in Chinese women with pre-diabetic behavior or diagnosed but without diabetes treatment.
Several studies have shown that consuming soy protein may be beneficial for diabetic kidney disease, thereby slowing the deterioration of renal function and reducing proteinuria. In addition, the application of soy-based diet results in less ultrafiltration and glomerular hypertension, and, consequently, has a positive effect on adults with type 1 diabetes.
In conclusion, soy is a food that contributes to a healthier lifestyle. Its effect on diabetes is not entirely clear but several studies have shown beneficial properties in preventing the onset and symptoms associated with type 2 diabetes.
Source: iatronet.gr