A soy-yoghurt-honey product as a therapeutic functional food: mode of action and narrative review.

Meal replacements and food supplements are now popular commercial weight loss and nutrition products. This review describes the efficacy, effectiveness, and therapeutic use of one such product - a soy-yoghurt-honey food formulation. The original formula of this product was created more than thirty years ago and since that time it has become well established as a food supplement supporting a healthy lifestyle. Therapeutic evidence for this product is based on numerous scientific studies and clinical trials, focusing particularly on weight management and associated metabolic risk factors and published as peer-reviewed articles. Given the availability of the product and the extent to which it has been experimentally evaluated, it is timely and important that the research is brought together under a single review to consolidate the understanding for the scientific and clinical communities. This review discusses the ingredients and the broad mechanisms of action, which are probably due to the biological properties of the three base components - soy, milk, and honey. It further summarizes and discusses the laboratory and clinical intervention studies, including the biochemical and metabolic mechanisms regarding the insulin- and lipid-lowering, anti-hypertensive, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-microbial properties of the overall food and its base products.

Continuous Protein Supplementation Reduces Acute Exercise-Induced Stress Markers in Athletes Performing Marathon.

The aim of this study was to determine the changes in endurance performance and metabolic, hormonal, and inflammatory markers induced by endurance stress (marathon race) in a combined strategy of training and dietary protein supplementation. The study was designed as a randomised controlled trial consisting of regular endurance training without and with a daily intake of a soy protein-based supplement over a three-month period in 2 × 15 (10 males and 5 females per group) endurance-trained adults. Body composition (body mass, BMI, and fat mass) was determined, and physical fitness was measured by treadmill ergometry at baseline and after 3 months of intervention; changes in exercise-induced stress and inflammatory markers (CK, myoglobin, interleukin-6, cortisol, and leukocytes) were also determined before and after a marathon competition; eating behaviour was documented before and after intervention by a three-day diet diary. Although no significant influence on endurance performance was observed, the protein supplementation regime reduced the exercise-induced muscle stress response. Furthermore, a protein intake of ≥20% of total energy intake led to a lower-level stress reaction after the marathon race. In conclusion, supplementary protein intake may influence exercise-induced muscle stress reactions by changing cellular metabolism and inflammatory pathways.

A soy-based supplement alters energy metabolism but not the exercise-induced stress response.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the changes in endurance capacity as well as in metabolic, hormonal and inflammatory markers induced by endurance training combined with a soy,protein based supplement. DESIGN: Randomized controlled study consisting of moderate endurance training without (GO) or with (G1) a soy protein based supplement. SUBJECTS: Two groups of 15 subjects (10 males and 5 females in each group): healthy sports students aged 23.6 +/- 1.9 years. MEASUREMENTS: Body composition (body mass (BM), body density (BD) by air displacement) and physical fitness (determined by treadmill ergometry) were measured at baseline and after 6 weeks of the intervention; changes in circulating metabolic and hormonal parameters (glucose, lactate, urea, uric acid, ammonia, cortisol, insulin, IGF-1), and exercise-induced stress and inflammatory markers (CK, LDH, myoglobin, hs-CRP, IL-6, IL-10, blood cell counts) were determined after the intervention period in afield test (11.5 km running on hilly ground). RESULTS: 30 participants completed the 6-week study; 28 students were able to perform the field test. No significant changes in BM and BD were noted after intervention with only slight increases in running performance and maximum aerobic capacity in the total group (2%, p=0.016). Subjects in the G1 group showed significant improvements in running velocity and lower lactate values following the intervention (-12%, p=0,003). In addition, the G1 group showed significantly lower differences in the exercise-induced increase of metabolic parameters (triglycerides, uric acid) and insulin in the post-exercise recovery period. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that moderate endurance training in combination with a soy-based protein supplement improves aerobic energy supply and metabolic function in healthy sports students, even without changes in body composition and without changes in the exercise-induced stress and inflammatory reaction.

Soy protein based supplementation supports metabolic effects of resistance training in previously untrained middle aged males.

OBJECTIVE: To determine changes in body composition, physical performance, metabolic and hormonal parameters induced by lifestyle counselling, resistance training and resistance training with soy protein based supplemention in middle aged males. DESIGN: Randomised controlled study consisting of resistance training without (RT-G) or with (RTS-G) a soy protein based supplement and a control group with lifestyle education only (LE-G). SUBJECTS: Forty healthy middle aged men (50-65 years, BMI 25-29.9 kg/m2). MEASUREMENTS: Changes in body weight (BW) and waist circumference (WC) were measured and body composition (BC), fat mass (FM), lean body mass (LBM) were measured by skin fold anthropometry at baseline and after 12 weeks of intervention. In addition, changes in physical fitness, metabolic and hormonal parameters (lipids, glucose, fructosamines, insulin, insulin-like growth factor-1, Leptin, human growth hormone, dehydroepiandrosterone, testosterone, hs-CRP, Il-6) were evaluated. RESULTS: Thirty-five participants completed the 12 week study. No significant changes in BW were noted although RM and WC dropped and LBM increased after training, particularly in the RTS group (FM 22.6 ± 5.5 kg to 21.2 ± 4.7 kg; LBM 68.5 ± 7.2 kg to 70.1 ± 7.4; p < 0.01). Subjects in the RTS group experienced more pronounced improvements in the strength measurements than the RT group. After the training intervention there were significant changes in hormonal and metabolic parameters as well as in glycemic control, particularly in the RTS group. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that resistance training, particularly in combination with a soy protein based supplement improves body composition and metabolic function in middle aged untrained and moderately overweight males.

Effect of a supplement rich in alkaline minerals on acid-base balance in humans.

BACKGROUND: Western diets are considered acidogenic due to the high dietary acid load and a low intake of base-forming dietary minerals such as potassium, magnesium or calcium. In the present study we investigated the effect of a multimineral supplement (MMS) rich in alkaline minerals on acute and chronic regulation of acid-base balance with the pH of blood, urine and saliva as potential surrogate markers. METHODS: Parameters were measured (i) without MMS intake, (ii) in the three consecutive hours following ingestion (blood and urinary pH) and (iii) during one week with or without MMS intake (self-monitored using pH measurement strips). RESULTS: 25 (15 female; 10 male) subjects (age 44 +/- 14 y; BMI 23.9 +/- 1.9 kg/m2) were enrolled in the investigation. Following acute administration of the MMS in the morning, blood ph (1 and 2 h after ingestion) rose from 7.40 to 7.41; p < 0.05, and also urinary pH 3 h after ingestion (5.94 to 6.57; p < 0.05) increased significantly. Following longer-term supplementation, both the increase in urinary pH in the morning and in the evening occurred within 1 day. Compared to pH values without the MMS, average pH in urine was 11% higher in the morning and 5% higher in the evening. Analyses of food records showed that the increase in urinary pH was not related to dietary change. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that the ingestion of a multimineral supplement is associated with both a significant increase in blood and urinary pH. The health related consequences of this supplementation remain to be determined.