No proof of soy link to low cholesterol

Taking extra soy supplements did not help stave off artery hardening in a new study of postmenopausal women.

But, researchers say, soy showed a possible benefit in young women just a few years after menopause - warranting more research in that age group.

The findings add to conflicting data about the role of soy in lowering blood pressure and cholesterol and reducing the risk of heart disease.

"I was not surprised" about the lack of a clear benefit, says William Wong, who studies nutrition and chronic disease at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston and wasn't involved in the new study. "So far the research (on soy) has been contradictory."

Researchers have theorized that since rates of cardiovascular disease are lower in Asia - where soy is an important component of the diet - there could be something protective about the nutrient-rich plant.

The current study, by the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, shows there was not a clear difference in artery hardening among women taking soy or non-soy protein supplements.