Soy Protein in Early Life Can Promote Healthier Bones

17 Oct 2016 --- Soy protein early in life could promote strong, healthy bones in adulthood, according to new research published in The FASEB Journal. The study suggests that early dietary nutrition heavy in soy protein isolate can protect against serious bone loss during adulthood.

Using an animal model, scientists claims the study presents concrete evidence of a protective effect of an early-life soy protein isolate diet on adult bone loss.

The study looked at one group of rats that was fed a soy protein isolate diet for 30 days (from postnatal day 24 to 55), that was then switched to a regular standard rodent diet until 6 months of age.

The rats were altered to mimic postmenopausal bone loss in women to determine the amount of bone loss.

The second group of rats was fed a regular standard rodent diet throughout life. This group was also altered to mimic postmenopausal bone loss and analyzed to determine bone loss.

The researchers found that the first group of rats showed reduced bone mass loss when compared to the second group of rats.

“Appropriate early-life nutrition can optimize peak bone mass,” said Jin-Ran Chen, M.D., Ph.D., a researcher involved in the work from the Skeletal Development Laboratory at Arkansas Children's Nutrition Center at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock, Arkansas.

“Consumption of soy foods has a variety of health benefits, including amelioration of bone loss during adulthood,” added Chen.

Thoru Pederson, Ph.D., Editor-in-Chief of The FASEB Journal, said, “The centuries-old mantra that children need milk to 'grow strong bones' remains true, but here we have evidence that the protein components of soy 'milk' have key osteogenic effects.”

“This finding could ultimately have major pediatric health impacts throughout various parts of the world.”