Alexandre Kiazand

Effect of Two Types of Soy Milk and Dairy Milk on Plasma Lipids in Hypercholesterolemic Adults: A Randomized Trial

Objective: To compare the effects of two commercially available soy milks (one made using whole soy beans, the other using soy protein isolate) with low-fat dairy milk on plasma lipid, insulin, and glucose responses. Design: Randomized clinical trial, cross-over design. Subjects: Participants were 30–65 years of age, n = 28, with pre-study LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) concentrations of 160–220 mg/dL, not on lipid lowering medications, and with an overall Framingham risk score of ≤10%. Intervention: Participants were required to consume sufficient milk to provide 25 g protein/d from each source. The protocol included three 4-week treatment phases, each separated from the next by a wash-out period of ≥4 weeks. Results: Mean LDL-C concentration at the end of each phase (± SD) was 161 ± 20, 161 ± 26 and 170 ± 24 mg/dL for the whole bean soy milk, the soy protein isolate milk, and the dairy milk, respectively (p = 0.9 between soy milks, p = 0.02 for each soy milk vs. dairy milk). No significant differences by type of milk were observed for HDL-cholesterol, triacylglycerols, insulin, or glucose. Conclusion: A 25 g dose of daily soy protein from soy milk led to a modest 5% lowering of LDL-C relative to dairy milk among adults with elevated LDL-C. The effect did not differ by type of soy milk and neither soy milk significantly affected other lipid variables, insulin or glucose.

Effect of Ginkgo biloba (EGb 761) on treadmill walking time among adults with peripheral artery disease: A randomized clinical trial

PURPOSE Medical therapies for treatment of peripheral artery disease (PAD) are limited. Ginkgo biloba has been reported to increase maximal and pain-free walking distance among patients with PAD; however, the evidence is inconsistent. The objective of this study was to compare the effects of 300 mg/d of Ginkgo biloba (EGb 761) versus placebo on treadmill walking time and related cardiovascular measures among patients with PAD. METHODS A double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel design trial with a 4-month duration was used. Participants were 62 adults, aged 70 ± 8 years (mean ± SD), with claudication symptoms of PAD. The primary study outcomes were maximal and pain-free walking time on a treadmill. Secondary outcomes included flow-mediated vasodilation, a measure of antioxidant status as assessed by determining antibody levels to epitopes of oxidized low-density lipoprotein, and questionnaires addressing walking impairment and quality of life. RESULTS Maximal treadmill walking time increased by 20 ± 80 and 91 ± 242 seconds in the placebo and the EGb 761 groups, respectively (P = .12). Pain-free walking time increased by 15 ± 31 and 21 ± 43 seconds, respectively (P = .28). No significant differences were detected between groups for any of the secondary outcomes. CONCLUSIONS In older adults with PAD, Ginkgo biloba produced a modest but insignificant increase in maximal treadmill walking time and flow-mediated vasodilation. These data do not support the use of Ginkgo biloba as an effective therapy for PAD, although a longer duration of use should be considered in any future trials.