Diabetes is one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality in both developed and developing world. Individuals with diabetes are at increased risk of developing heart disease, hypertension, nervous system disorders, blindness and kidney dysfunction (1). Prevalence of diabetes among adults aged 20 to 74 y increased from 5.08% in 1976-1980 to 8.83% in 1999-2004 worldwide (2).

There is already a lot of exsisting data about the beneficial effect of soya on cardiovascular benefits, see soya and cardiovascular benefits.

A small number of studies have examined the relationship between soya consumption and diabetes. The first study suggesting a therapeutic potential of soya for diabetes has been published in 1910 (3).

Several mechanisms could have a direct pharmacological action of soya on glycaemic control (4-7). Studies in animals and humans have already shown that diets containing soya protein (rich in isoflavones), improve insulin resistance and reduce insulin levels (8-10).

Although the available literature on soya and diabetes is still very limited it’s likely that soya protein rich in phyto-estrogens may have a direct positive effect on diabetes control.

Just recently a study in postmenopausal women with the metabolic syndrome found that short-term soy-nut consumption improved glycemic control and lipid profiles (11). For more information on this topic, see: Expert opinion by Azadbakht.

1. Gregg EW, Cheng YJ, Narayan KM, Thompson TJ, Williamson DF. The relative contributions of different levels of overweight and obesity to the increased prevalence of diabetes in the United States: 1976-2004. Prev Med 2007;45:348-352
   
   
2. Stancoven A, McGuire DK. Preventing macrovascular complications in type 2 diabetes mellitus: glucose control and beyond. Am J Cardiol 2007;99(11A):5H-11H.
   
   
3. Giordano C: Use of exogenous and endogenous urea for protein synthesis in normal and uremic subjects. J Lab Clin Med 62:231-246, 1963
   
   
4. Giovannetti S, Maggiore Q: A Low-Nitrogen Diet with Proteins of High Biological Value for Severe Chronic Uraemia. Lancet 37:1000-1003, 1964
   
   
5. Giovannetti S: The compliance with supplemented diet by chronic uremics and their nutritional status. Infusions Therapie 14:4-7, 1987
   
   
6. Coyne T, Olson M, Bradham K, Garcon M, Gregory P, Scherch L: Dietary satisfaction correlated with adherence in the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease study. J Am Diet Assoc 95:1301-1305, 1995
   
   
7. Stephenson TJ, Anderson JW, Fanti P: Beneficial Effects of Soy Protein Use on Renal Function in Young Type I Diabetics With Early Diabetic Nephropathy., in 4th International Symposium on the Role of Soy in Preventing and Treating Chronic Disease , San Diego, CA, 2001
   
   
8. Kontessis PA, Bossinakou I, Sarika L, Iliopoulou E, Papantoniou A, Trevisan R, Roussi D, Stipsanelli K, Grigorakis S, Souvatzoglou A: Renal, metabolic, and hormonal responses to proteins of different origin in normotensive, nonproteinuric type I diabetic patients. Diabetes Care 18:1233, 1995
   
   
9. Teixeira SR, Tappenden KA, Carson L, Jones R, Prabhudesai M, Marshall WP, Erdman JW, Jr.: Isolated soy protein consumption reduces urinary albumin excretion and improves the serum lipid profile in men with type 2 diabetes mellitus and nephropathy. J Nutr 134:1874-1880, 2004
   
   
10. Gentile M, Fellin G, Cofano F, Delle Fave A, Manna G, Ciceri R, Petrini C, Lavarda F, Pozzi F, D'Amico G: Treatment of proteinuric patients with a vegetarian soy diet and fish oil. Clinical Nephrol 40:315-320, 1993
    
    
11. Azadbakht L, Kimiagar M, Mehrabi Y et al. Soy inclusion in the diet improves features of the metabolic syndrome: a randomized crossover study in postmenopausal women. Am J Clin Nutr 2007;85:735-41.