Two groups of women were put on a low fat diet over two one-month periods, with one diet including soy products and the other without.

The study discovered that soy reduced levels of oxidized cholesterol, which can form arterial plaque and is linked to heart disease. The total estrogenic activity in the urine of women on soy was slightly less than before they started the diet. This finding may suggest that soy does not have the same effect as estrogen on menopausal symptoms. The study was funded by University Industry Research Partnership Program of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council, the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Loblaw Brands Toronto.

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