Background and aim: Hyperlipidemia is one of the major risk factors of cardiovascular complication in diabetes. High intake of soy product has been suggested to prevent cardiovascular disease. The purpose of this study was to evaluate if dietary supplement of soybean D-LeciVita product, rich in polyunsaturated phospholipids (with 12% lecithin, 35% soy protein) affects serum lipids and serum and erythrocyte phospholipid fatty acid composition in type 2 diabetic patients.
Methods and results: Forty-seven patients (men and post-menopausal women) with isolated hypertriglyceridemia (IHTG) and combined hyperlipidemia (CHL), aged 43-70 years, were given 15g of D-LeciVita powder as a water suspension in a single evening dose during the follow-up period of 12 weeks. Patients kept their diabetic diet relatively constant. Treatment was associated with a significant (p < or = 0.001) decrease in serum total cholesterol and triglyceride levels by 12% and 22%, respectively. LDL-cholesterol decreased by 16% and HDL-cholesterol increased by 11% (p < or = 0.001). Our study shows a 27% decrease in LDL-cholesterol (p < or = 0.001) and a 12% increase in HDL-cholesterol (p < or = 0.01) in CHL type 2 diabetic patients. Triglyceride levels decreased in type 2 diabetic patients with IHTG and CHL by 29% and 13%, respectively (p < or = 0.01 and p < or = 0.05). Our results show decrease in SFA and increase in n-6 and n-3 PUFA in serum and erythrocyte phospholipids. SFA decreased and n-3 PUFA increased in serum and erythrocyte phospholipids in IHTG and CHL groups.
Conclusion: The present study indicated that added to a regular diet, soybean D-LeciVita product (combination of soy protein and lecithin) is associated not only with lipid-lowering effects but also with more favorable serum phospholipids fatty acid profile in type 2 diabetic patients with hyperlipidemia.