Sahlgrenska Academyat University of GothenburgDepartment of Internal Medicine and Clinical NutritionAbstractTitle: Effects of isoflavone supplementation from soybeans on LDL-cholesterol levels in adultAuthors: Malin Blomgren Alegria and Ruut ReivaaraSupervisor: Lena HulthénExaminer: Frode SlindeProgramme: Dietician study programme, 180/240 ECTSType of paper: Examination paper, 15 hpDate: 2013-04-08Background: One of the most common causes of death in Sweden is due to cardiovascular diseases such as heart attack and stroke. Hypercholesterolemia is one of the risk factors for cardiovascular disease. In Asia, hypercholesterolemia is less common than in the Western countries. In Asian countries, soy products are consumed in larger quantities than in the Western world, which has led to implemented research with the intention of examining soy's potential effect on cholesterol levels.Objective: To investigate whether there is scientific evidence that isoflavone supplementation from soy bean may have a lowering effect on LDL-cholesterol.Search strategy: The databases used for the systematic literature search were PubMed, Scopus and Cochrane. Keywords used were cholesterol and 9 versions of this, and isoflavones and 11 versions of that.Selection criteria: RCT articles, on humans, written in English, published from 2011 onwards, that focused on interventions with isoflavones from soybeans and its effect on blood cholesterol, the participants were over 18 years old and the study time was at least 24 weeks.

Sahlgrenska Academy at University of GothenburgDepartment of Internal Medicine and Clinical Nutrition3AbstractTitle: How does isoflavones in combination with soy protein impact cholesterol levels in hypercholesterolemic postmenopausal women relative to milk protein?Author: Emma Edberg och Emma NilssonSupervisor: Lena HulthénExaminer: Anna WinkvistProgramme: Dietician stydy programme,180/240 hpType of paper: Examination paper, 15 hpDate: 2014-05-26Background: Hypercholesterolemia is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease and the number one cause of death among women in Western countries. Declining levels of estrogen at menopause could be a contribution factor. Isoflavones is a vegetable substance, with structural and functional similarities to the human estrogen. This is a potential reason for possible cholesterol-lowering effects.