Solae™ soy protein: The Basics

Scientific research continues to demonstrate that substituting soy protein for some or all animal proteins in the diet can lead to beneficial health effects in the area of cholesterol lowering, reduction in coronary heart disease (CHD) risk, relieving women's health concerns, maintaining bone health and potentially protecting against certain forms of cancer. The Solae Company has invested over thirty years of research in understanding the impact of soy protein consumption on human health. Current research, since 1996, uses Solae™ brand soy protein because Solae™ soy protein contains naturally occurring isoflavones and other bioactive components.

See About Solae™ for more information.

Why are proteins important to the body and what is the relationship of amino acids to protein?
Proteins are fundamental components of all living cells. Protein is essential in building body tissues during periods of growth and development and in repairing and maintaining body tissues. Proteins have numerous functions in the human body, including their vital role in muscle, hormones, enzymes, and various fluids and body secretions, and as antibodies in the immune system.

Amino acids are the building blocks of protein. At least twenty of these amino acids commonly make up both plant and animal proteins. Amino acids are classified as essential (indispensable), nonessential (dispensable), and conditionally essential (conditionally indispensable).

How are proteins classified and what does High-Quality Protein mean?
Food proteins are often classified as being either complete or incomplete proteins depending on their amino acid content. Complete proteins are those food proteins that contain all the essential amino acids in concentrations necessary for human needs. Incomplete proteins are food proteins that are deficient in one or more of the essential amino acids that must be supplied by food.

"High-quality" proteins are complete proteins containing all the essential (indispensable) amino acids in concentrations sufficient to meet the requirements of humans. Solae™ brand soy protein is a high-quality protein- and has a PDCAAS (Protein Digestibility-Corrected Amino Acid Score) of 1.0. The highest PDCAAS value that any protein can achieve is 1.0. This means that Solae™ soy protein with a PDCAAS of 1.0, has the same score as meat, milk, and egg proteins indicating a very high quality protein.

What is PDCAAS and how does it differ from PER?
Protein digestibility-corrected amino acid score (PDCAAS) is a relatively new, and potentially more accurate method for evaluating the quality of food proteins. PDCAAS is based on a food protein's amino acid content, its digestibility, and its ability to supply essential amino acids in amounts adequate to meet the needs of humans. PDCAAS has replaced the Protein Efficiency Ratio (PER), which had been the accepted method for evaluating protein quality since 1919. Since PER measures the ability of protein to support growth in young, growing rats, it overestimated the need for certain amino acids. This led to a general overestimation of the quality of animal protein and an underestimation of the quality of plant proteins. Adoption of the PDCAAS method as the standard allows evaluation of food protein quality based on the needs of humans. PDCAAS is currently the method recognized by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and other international organizations for food labeling.

What is the difference between Solae™ brand isolated soy protein and other soy protein isolates on the market?
Solae™ isolated soy proteins from The Solae Company are being used in the majority of clinical research surrounding the health benefits of soy protein. Solae™ brand isolated soy protein has been carefully processed to provide a maximum level of naturally occurring isoflavones and other bioactive components. Solae™ soy protein is processed with a water wash (rather than an alcohol wash) which maintains the integrity of the naturally occurring isoflavones, and other bioactive components. It is manufactured under strict specifications in order to guarantee a consistent, high-quality product. When soy is processed with alcohol most of the isoflavones may be removed. Recent clinical research supports that soy protein with naturally occurring bioactive components, including isoflavones, are necessary in order to deliver health benefits.

See About Solae™ for more information.

What are isoflavones?
Isoflavones are naturally occurring plant components and are a subcategory of phytochemicals, found naturally in plants. The isoflavones found primarily in soybeans include genistein, daidzien, and glycitein. Recent human clinical research suggests that isoflavones are among the bioactive compounds that work in conjunction with soy protein to lower blood cholesterol.

See Soy Basics for more information.

Are isoflavones added to Solae™ brand soy protein?
No, the isoflavones contained in our products are naturally occurring.

Why don't you sell concentrated isoflavones?
Solae™ soy protein products are backed by science. The Solae Company is supporting clinical research using isoflavone concentrates. Clinical research needs to prove the health benefits and/or risks associated with isoflavone concentrates before selling them.

Why not just take the bioactive component, such as isoflavones in a pill form?
Clinical research has shown that bioactive components, such as isoflavones, do not work by themselves to reduce cholesterol. While it may be a lot easier to take a pill, studies have shown that you need the soy protein together with its bioactive components to get the cholesterol-lowering effect.

Clinical research has conclusively demonstrated soy protein with naturally occurring isoflavones, such as some of The Solae Company's isolated soy proteins, is effective in lowering cholesterol. Soy protein can be an important part of a healthy diet because it is a complete, high-quality protein that is low in saturated fat and cholesterol-free.

Does Solae™ Brand Soy Protein contain lactose?
Solae™ soy protein is lactose-free.

What is the difference between Isolated Soy Protein, Soy Protein Concentrate and Soy Flour?
On a dry weight basis, isolated soy protein is 90% protein, soy protein concentrate is 70% protein and soy flour is 50% protein.

See Soy Basics for more information.

What are the side effects of consuming soy protein?
There are no side effects of consuming soy protein. Soy is one of the oldest foods known to human kind, and has been a staple of the Asian diet for centuries.

Does consuming soy protein cause GI problems such as gas and bloating?
Solae™ soy protein, an ingredient in many soy-based foods, is specially processed and should not produce gas or flatulence, as it is essentially free of flatulence-producing carbohydrates as found in many products made from the whole soybean.

Does soy protein affect the absorption of minerals like iron?
The FDA has taken the position that available data provides no evidence linking iron from soy and soy protein products to health problems in any segment of the population. The United States Department of Agriculture additionally concluded that a diet containing soy protein does not significantly change (and may actually improve) blood iron levels.

Will adding soy protein increase the cost of foods?
Soy protein can actually cost less than milk, egg and meat. In addition, soy protein can add value to food products because of the many health benefits associated with eating foods containing soy protein.

What is isolated soy protein?
Isolated soy protein is 90 percent protein on a dry weight basis, with virtually all of the fat and carbohydrate removed. Processed from whole soybeans, isolated soy protein is fundamentally an ingredient to be incorporated into foods and beverages. Because of its high protein concentration, isolated soy protein offers food manufacturers an ideal way to incorporate into their products the necessary amount of soy protein needed to qualify for the health claim label.

How does Solae™ soy protein compare with other forms of soy protein?
The protein content of soy flour is approximately 50 percent while soy concentrate is approximately 70 percent protein (based on dry weight). That's compared to isolated soy protein, which is at a minimum 90 percent protein (based on dry weight). The higher percentage of soy protein in Solae™ soy protein allows food manufacturers to offer consumers higher amounts of soy protein per serving. Solae™ soy protein is playing a key role in enabling food manufacturers to more easily develop great tasting products that will include the 6.25 grams of soy protein per serving needed for a product to carry the heart health claim label.

In addition to the protein content, there is a difference in the taste. Solae™ soy protein is processed so that its flavor is compatible with many types of foods, and is therefore more easily used as an ingredient in a variety of great tasting food products.

Where does soy protein come from?
Soy protein is found in the soybean, which is one of the world's most common forms of vegetable protein. Approximately 42 percent of whole soybeans consist of protein. More than 60 percent of the world soybeans are grown in the United States and in 1997 the U.S. soybean crop was valued at more than $18 billion. In the U.S., soybeans are grown on more than 70 million acres on more than 300,000 farms across the nation.

How can Americans get enough soy in their diet to make a difference?
According to research, 25 grams of soy protein in a daily diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol can help reduce the risk of heart disease. Twenty-five grams divided into four servings a day is just over six grams of soy protein per serving.

Soyfoods are becoming more mainstream in the United States. There are a wide variety of good tasting foods available and food manufacturers are working to develop familiar foods with soy protein that taste good and meet the standards of the health claim.

In addition, food manufacturers currently are working with The Solae Company to develop ways to create new food products and modify existing food products to enable Americans to more easily include the recommended amount of soy protein into their daily diets.

A few tips on how to incorporate soy protein into your diet as follows:

• Mix soy protein isolate powders in your favorite soups, sauces and casseroles
• Create your own delicious shakes with soy protein isolate powder and fresh fruit
• Top your hot cereal with soy protein powder and mix with water or soy milk
• Use crumbled tofu for a creamy pie filling

Find out more fun, great ways for adding soy protein in your diet by visiting our Soy Protein Recipes section.

Solae™ soy protein: The Benefits

See the Health Benefits Section for more information.

How does Solae™ brand soy protein work to lower cholesterol?
Various bioactive components in soy protein have been suggested to explain the cholesterol-lowering effects of soy protein. Studies have shown that soy protein enhances bile acid secretion, which has the effect of removing cholesterol from the blood. Other studies have shown that soy protein stimulates the liver to remove LDL-cholesterol from the blood. Several studies have also suggested that the amino acid profile of soy protein as well as bioactive components such as isoflavones are crucial cholesterol-lowering components. There is ongoing research examining the mechanisms by which soy protein lowers blood cholesterol.

How much soy protein should I include in my daily diet to lower cholesterol?
According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Health Claim, consuming 25 grams of soy protein, as part of a low fat, low cholesterol diet, in 4 daily servings of 6.25 grams is effective in reducing both total cholesterol and LDL -cholesterol levels.

See FDA Health Claim for more information.

Is soy protein good for people concerned about bone health?
Animal studies on diets rich in Solae™ brand soy protein show a potential role of soy protein in promoting bone health. Soy protein may protect against osteoporosis and fracture risk by promoting a more optimal calcium balance. Soy protein with naturally occurring isoflavones and other bioactive components has been shown to increase both bone mineral content and bone mineral density in humans.

See Bone Health for more information.

Is there any downside to consuming soy protein?
No, there is no downside to consuming soy protein as part of a balanced diet. Soy is one of the oldest foods known to mankind, and has been a staple of Asian diets for centuries. Anyone who is a cancer survivor should seek the advice of their physician before making any significant dietary changes, including consumption of soyfoods.

Why do doctors, nurses and nutritionists recommend soy-based formulas for normal, full term babies without feeding problems?
Clinical studies show that babies fed soy-based infant formula have similar growth to babies fed a formula made from cows milk or breast milk. Soy-based infant formulas provide an excellent source of high-quality, highly digestible protein. Soy-based infant formulas provide complete nutrition that adequately supports growth and development.

See Soy for Life for more information.

Who should eat soy?
Soy, as part of a balanced diet low in fat and cholesterol, can help reduce the incidence of coronary heart disease in everyone. This is particularly important because more than 750,000 Americans die each year from coronary heart disease, for which elevated cholesterol levels are a contributing cause. The American Heart Association estimates that more than 60 million Americans have one or more type of cardiovascular disease, such as coronary heart disease, stroke, hypertension, or rheumatic heart disease. As Americans become more and more health conscious, many people and their physicians will look to soy-based foods as a practical approach in controlling cholesterol and coronary heart disease and reducing America's dependence on drug therapies.

In general, it would be a health benefit to most people to substitute soy protein for some of the animal protein in their diet. There are however, certain groups that can get very specific benefits from soy protein. Those groups include:

• People with high cholesterol: Convincing evidence supports the cholesterol-lowering effect of as little as 25 grams of soy protein per day, as part of a low-fat, low cholesterol diet.
• Women: Soy protein offers women special advantages in addition to its cholesterol-lowering effect. There is promising clinical research on the positive influence of soy protein as it relates to several important women's health issues, including menopause and bone health
  

See Health Benefits for more information.

FDA Health Claim

What health claim has the U.S Food & Drug Administration (FDA) authorized?
In response to a petition submitted by The Solae Company, the FDA has authorized a health claim on the relationship between consuming soy protein and the reduced risk of heart disease. Authorization for use of the health claim allows food manufacturers that meet certain criteria to label their foods with the health claim.

What is the scientific basis for the health claim?
More than 20 years of accumulated scientific evidence and over 50 trials in humans have been analyzed in support of this claim. There also is suggestive epidemiological data provided by the low incidence of heart disease in Asia, where soy has been a primary protein consumed for more than two thousand years.

How much soy protein is an effective amount?
According to the research, 25 grams of soy protein a day -- which may be obtained through four servings of foods each containing 6.25 grams of soy protein -- are effective in reducing both total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol levels.

Which products will qualify to use the health claim?
Foods eligible to carry the claim will be required to provide a minimum of 6.25 grams of soy protein per serving -- although foods can certainly contain more than 6.25 grams of soy protein per serving and still qualify for the claim. In addition, each food must meet the FDA-established health claim criteria for total fat, saturated fat, cholesterol and sodium.

Do all soy-based foods qualify for the health claim?
A wide variety of soy-based foods will qualify for the health claim. In addition, food manufacturers are developing new foods to meet increasing demand for products containing soy. However, not all soy-based foods qualify since not all soy products contain the 6.25 grams of soy protein per serving or meet the fat, cholesterol or sodium requirements needed to meet the claim's specifications. Products containing isolated soy protein, however, make it easier for consumers to get the recommended 25 grams of soy protein in the proposed four servings per day.

What impact will the FDA Health Claim have on the health of the American consumer?
Soy protein has the potential to have a profound impact on public health via the reduction of cholesterol levels and coronary heart disease, which kills more than 750,000 Americans each year. We know soy protein can reduce cholesterol, and there's evidence to show that populations that consume soy foods regularly have lower rates of breast, colon and prostate cancers, reduced incidence of osteoporosis and menopause symptoms. Further studies are ongoing which will clarify the role of soy in relation to these issues.

See Health Benefits for more information.

General Health & Nutrition

Can people be allergic to soy?
The incidence of allergy to soy is very low. As with all food products, there are certain people who may be allergic to soy. Allergy to soy is found in only about 0.5% of the American adult population.

How many Americans have high cholesterol?
According to the American Heart Association, about 99.5 million adults have cholesterol levels over 200 mg/dl. About 27 million children, aged 19 or under, have cholesterol levels of 170 or higher, which is comparable to 200 in adults.

See Cardiovascular Disease for more information.

About The Solae Company

See About Us for more information.

Who is The Solae Company?
The Solae Company is a combination of three existing businesses: DuPont Protein Technologies and Bunge's Central Soya and Brazil-based specialty food, feed and industrial ingredients operations.

The Solae Company serves more than 3,000 customers by offering more than a thousand different products, including many brands that are widely recognized in the food ingredients industry: Alpha®, Danpro®, Samprosoy®, Centrolex®, Promine®, Procote®, Supro®, Proplus®,
and Solae™ and its sub-brands.

With manufacturing operations in four major regions and six technical centers around the world, Solae offers knowledgeable staff, customer support, and technical capabilities, combining local market insights with global expertise and experience to create customized solutions. The Solae Company's long-term aim is to incorporate great-tasting, value-added specialty food ingredients into the world's menu in every day in meat products, beverages, cereals and processed foods in general.