Table 3.
Effects of isoflavones on serum LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and triglycerides levels. Isoflavones in the forms of tablets or isolated soy protein (ISP) did not show significant benefits over serum LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and triglycerides levels. The results were not heterogeneous to combine.
| Type of intervention* | No. of trials | No. of comparisons | No. of subjects | Treatment effect (mmol/L) † | Heterogeneity p-value |
| 1.) Isoflavones tablets | |||||
| LDL | 9 | 11[8,10,12,13,16-18,20,21] | 446 | 0.00 (-0.14, 0.15) | 0.94 |
| HDL | 10 | 12[8-10,12,13,16-18,20,21] | 482 | 0.01 (-0.05, 0.06) | 0.98 |
| TG | 9 | 12[8-10,12,13,16,17,20,21] | 482 | 0.03 (-0.06, 0.12) | 0.93 |
| 2.) ISP (+) | |||||
| LDL | 3 | 5 [14,15,23] | 173 | -0.06 (-0.16, 0.03) | 0.84 |
| HDL | 3 | 5 [14,15,23] | 173 | -0.01 (-0.07, 0.05) | 0.97 |
| TG | 3 | 5 [14,15,23] | 173 | 0.02 (-0.05, 0.09) | 1.00 |
* 'ISP (+)' = isoflavones containing isolated soy protein; 'LDL' = Low density lipoprotein cholesterol; 'HDL' = High density lipoprotein cholesterol; 'TG' = Triglycerides † 95% confidence interval in parenthesis