Soy intake and health

Soy has received attention for its potential effects on health.123 Soy is rich in protein, fibre, and unsaturated fat, as well as isoflavones.4 Some components of soy have been associated with beneficial effects on metabolic disorders such as cholesterolaemia5 and obesity.6 Recently, soy has been increasing in popularity not only among vegetarians but also in omnivores in Western countries, although Asian populations have typically eaten soy since ancient times. In Asian countries, especially Japan, several types of soy products are widely consumed, such as tofu (soybean curd), natto (soybean fermented with Bacillus subtilis), and miso (soybean fermented with Aspergillus oryzae). It is, however, still unclear whether different soy products, especially fermented soy products, are associated with specific health effects.

In a linked paper, Katagiri and colleagues (doi: …