A Comparison of the Effects of Soy Milk and Cow's Milk Consumption on Cardiovascular Indices and Adipocytokines Among Overweight Women with Rheumatoid Arthritis

Background and Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an inflammatory disorder which leads to an increase in casualties caused by cardiovascular disease (CVD). Adipocytokines and hs-CRP play a main role in pathophysiology of RA and CVD. Soy foods and phytoestrogens have anti-inflammatory properties. So, this study was designed to determine the effects of soy milk consumption comparing with cow’s milk consumption on anthropometric indicators, blood pressure (BP), hs-CRP, adiponectin and leptin among patients suffering from RA. This randomized, crossover clinical trial was conducted on 30 patients. This study had two intervention periods, each lasted 4-weeks. Subjects were divided in two groups of consuming soy milk (one glass per day) and cow's milk (one glass per day). The wash‐out period was two weeks. Variables were measured before and after of each intervention. Soy milk consumption resulted a significant reduction in hs-CRP levels (percent change: -13.81±5.39 vs. 9.21±6.33%; P˂0.008). Serum levels of adiponectin decreased in soy milk group (baseline: 38.39±2, end: 30.71±1.9; P˂0.01). However, this reduction was not significant comparing with cow’s milk (p=0.096). We have not seen any significant differences in leptin levels, weight and BP between two interventional periods (p˃0.05). Soy milk consumption for 4 weeks could decrease serum levels of hs-CRP, and had no significant effects on other variables in patients suffering fromRA.