Effects of soy-derived diets on plasma and liver lipids, glucose tolerance, and longevity in normal, long-lived and short-lived mice

We examined the effects of diets based on a low isoflavone or a high isoflavone soy protein isolates in normal, growth-hormone receptor knockout and Ames dwarf, and Prop 1(df) mice that are hypoinsulinemic, insulin-sensitive, and exceptionally long-lived, as well as in growth hormone transgenic mice that are hyperinsulinemic, insulin-resistant, dyslipidemic, and short-lived. Soybean diets tended to normalize plasma cholesterol levels in dwarf and transgenic mice, while low isoflavone diet reduced plasma triglycerides in most of the examined genotypes. The effects of low isoflavone and high isoflavone diets on the levels of free and esterified cholesterol in the liver were strongly genotype-dependent. Fasting blood glucose levels were reduced and glucose tolerance improved by both low isoflavone and high iso-flavone diets in growth hormone-transgenic mice and in their normal siblings. Glucose tolerance was also improved by high-isoflavone diet in growth hormone receptor knockout mice. Lifespan was increased by low isoflavone diet in normal mice from two of the examined stocks. High isoflavone diet increased lifespan in normal animals from one line, but reduced lifespan of normal mice from a different line. We conclude that dietary soy protein intake can improve plasma and hepatic lipid profiles, reduce fasting glucose, enhance capacity for glucose tolerance, and prolong life, but all of these effects are strongly genotype-dependent.