New Beverage for Cardiovascular Health, Proposal Based on Oriental and Occidental Food Culture from a World-Wide Epidemiological Study

• Published in: Geriatrics & gerontology international Vol. 8; no. s1; pp. S3 - S7
• Main Authors: Moriguchi, Emilio Hideyuki, Yamori, Yukio, Mori, Mari, Sagara, Miki, Mori, Hideki, Sakuma, Tatsuya, Ishikawa, Paulo Molitsugu, Moriguchi, Yukio
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Melbourne, Australia Blackwell Publishing Asia 01.03.2008; Blackwell Publishing Ltd
• Subjects: Blood Pressure; LDL-cholesterol; Obesity; Randomized Placebo-controlled Intervention; Soy Isoflavones
• ISSN: 1444-1586; 1447-0594
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1447-0594.2007.00398.x

Objectives:  To investigate whether combined isoflavones and antioxidants in oriental and occidental drinks reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in high‐risk Japanese immigrants living in Brazil. Materials and methods:  From among over 100 Japanese immigrants thirty‐seven females aged 45–60 years in Porto Alegre, Brazil, were randomized after informed consent into two groups to drink 200 ml of whole soy cell juice (S) containing 7.5 g soy protein and 10 mg of isoflavones (aglycone) in peach juice or placebo peach juice (P) with 80 Kcal for 12 weeks. Health survey including 24‐hour urine (24 U) examination were carried out before the randomization and after the double blind placebo controlled intervention study. Results:  Both weight and body mass index (BMI) were significantly (p < 0.05, 0.01) decreased from the baseline only in the S group. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) was decreased significantly (p < 0.05) from the baseline in the S group with elevated 24 U isoflavone excretion (>10 µmol), and there was a significant (p < 0.05) inter‐group difference between the S and P groups after intervention. Total and low density lipoprotein (LDL)‐cholesterol (C) decreased significantly (p < 0.05) in the S group from the baseline and there was a significant difference (p < 0.05) between the S and P groups after intervention. HbA1c and atherogenic index (non‐high density lipoprotein (HDL)‐C/HDL‐C) were significantly (p < 0.05) decreased in both groups. Conclusions:  Soy isoflavones combined with fruit antioxidants, the combination of which might potentiate local nitric oxide (NO) affect, decreased SBP, total cholesterol and LDL‐C. Peach juice itself improved blood glucose levels and the atherogenic index of the high‐risk Japanese population in Brazil.