effects of soy on body composition: a 12-week randomized controlled trial among iranian elderly women with metabolic syndrome

background: to examine the effects of soy [in the form of textured soy protein (tsp) and soy-nut] on body composition in elderly women with metabolic syndrome (mets). methods: a 12-week randomized clinical trial was conducted on 75 women between 60-70 years of age with mets in rural health clinics around babol, iran in 2009. the participants were randomly assigned to one of the three groups of soy-nut (35g/d), tsp (35g/d) and control. body fat, lean mass and anthropometric indicators were measured before and after intervention, too. results: participants were classified as overweight and showing android fat distribution. after 12 weeks of intervention, both soy-nut and tsp groups showed an in crease of non-significant in lean mass (0.9 and 0.7 kg), hip circumference (0.45 and 0.28 cm), triceps skinfold (tsf) thickness (0.87 and 0.67mm) and reduction in bmi (-0.15 and -0.33), waist circumference (-0.83 and -1.2) and body fat (-1.5% and -1.7%). significant increase in the mean change of tsf and lean mass was observed in the users of soy-nut compared to the control group ( p< 0.01, p< 0.05) .   conclusion : 12-week intervention of soy had a mild favorable effect on body composition in elderly women with mets.