Effects of soybean oil on plasma lipoproteins and cardiovascular risk in men and women

Apart from the phytosterols and the other components of the bean (proteins, isoflavones) soybean oil presents several characteristics that give it a preventing effect on cardiovascular risk and coronary heart disease. With 61% of polyunsaturated fatty acids and only 15% of saturated fatty acids, without transfatty acids, soybean oil diets may decrease total and LDL cholesterol. Soybean oil is also rich in vitamin E, especially in gamma tocopherol whose antioxydant activity deserves more attention today. Finally, its large content in alpha linolenic acid may induce on antithrombotic and antiarrythmic effect, but this effect is perhaps restricted by the poor bioavoilability of this fatty acid in soybean oil.