Soy alternative to higher statin dose

The soy product Abacor can help further lower cholesterol in patients already using lipid lowering statins, according to results presented at the New Functional Ingredients and Foods (NFIF) conference in Copenhagen this week.

Abacor manufacturer Nutri Pharma said that based on the knowledge that for every 6 per cent LDL cholesterol reduction statin dosage would need to be doubled, the 12 per cent additional lowering of LDL cholesterol in males, achieved using its soy composition, has a similar effect to four times the statin dosage.

Statins are currently the most widely used drug in patients with hypercholesterolemia for both the primary and secondary prevention of coronary heart disease. However, many statin-treated patients are not able to lower their cholesterol to an acceptable level and some experience adverse effects.

In this study, conducted at Gentofte University Hospital in Copenhagen, Denmark, Abacor not only had a significant additional cholesterol lowering effect but was also well tolerated and safe in statin treated patients, said Norway's Nutri Pharma​. Abacor could therefore be a viable alternative to increasing statin dose.

Other studies presented at the conference included the comparative, triple-armed study​ conducted in Potsdam, Germany in cooperation with the German Institute of Human Nutrition which found that Abacor is more than twice as effective at lowering cholesterol as the 'best' commercially available soy protein.

A third study - a pre-clinical trial conducted in the Netherlands - reveals that Abacor significantly reduces the atherogenic fractions of lipids while maintaining HDL cholesterol levels, reported Nutri Pharma.

The company has applied for a patent for its soy protein and phospholipids composition.

Since the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a health claim relating soy to cholesterol reduction in 1999, the US soy market has seen double-digit growth and, with the Joint Health Claims Initiative (JHCI) new claim for soy in the UK approved last year, significant growth is expected in this market.

Nutri Pharma was listed on the Oslo Stock exchange in May 2000, which has led to investments of more than $50 million during the last three years, a significant proportion of which has been invested in R&D, according to the company. It is now seeking industrial partners in the food and pharma sectors with international reach for its patented technologies.