Silk® Heart Health breaks new ground in dietary approaches to lower cholesterol by combining soy protein and phytosterols—two proven heart-health ingredients1—in a single, delicious product.
Decades of Compelling Science
The link between soy and heart health is backed by decades of scientific data. More than 80 human studies during the past 30 years have demonstrated that soy protein can help lower LDL (bad) cholesterol between 3% and 5%,2–4 with some studies showing even greater reductions. Phytosterols have been studied for their impact on cholesterol for more than 50 years. Their value in reducing high cholesterol is supported by more than 140 clinical studies, the FDA and the National Cholesterol Education Program.
Our Clinical Studies
In both 2007 and 2008, clinical studies showed that various formulations of Silk soymilk with sterols effectively reduced cholesterol, with reductions ranging from 6-16% for LDL and 7-12% for total cholesterol. In fact, the 2008 study showed that our proprietary formula of Silk Heart Health reduced cholesterol by 7%.
Methodology
The study was designed as a randomized, diet-controlled crossover trial—the gold standard of dietary modification research in human subjects. Men and women with normal high cholesterol and borderline high LDL cholesterol were randomly assigned to consume 3 eight-ounce servings of Silk Heart Health per day or 3 eight-ounce servings of 1% dairy milk per day for four weeks. In order to optimize the accuracy of the study results, all participants were under dietary control, consuming only the sensible meals and snacks provided by the researchers.
After a four-week break during which they resumed their normal habits, the subjects switched to the opposite group for a second four-week intervention—those who initially consumed Silk Heart Health now consumed 1% milk and vice versa. This allowed the researchers to compare each participant's response to the Silk product against his or her individual response to dairy milk, which represents the highest possible level of scientific control.
Conclusion
Drinking Silk Heart Health has been clinically shown to reduce cholesterol 7% in just 4 weeks.†
1As part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol, foods containing at least 0.4 grams per serving of phytosterols, eaten twice a day with meals for a daily total intake of at least 0.8 grams, may reduce the risk of heart disease. As part of the same healthy diet, 25 grams of soy protein per day may also reduce your risk. A serving of Silk for Heart Health provides .65 grams of phytosterols and 6.25 grams of soy protein.
2 Sacks FM, Lichentenstein A, Van Horn L et al. Circulation 113; 1034-1044, 2006.
3 Balk E, Chung M, Chew P et al. Effects of soy on health outcomes. AHRQ, 2005.
4 Zhan S, Ho SC. AJCN 81:397-408, 2005.
† In a recent clinical study, people who enjoyed 3 servings of Silk Heart Health per day for 4 weeks, as part of a sensible diet, lowered their cholesterol 7%.
