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A systematic review and meta‑analysis of randomized trials of substituting soymilk for cow’s milk and intermediate cardiometabolic outcomes: understanding the impact of dairy alternatives in the transition to plant‑based diets on cardiometabolic health

By M. N. Erlich, D. Ghidanac, S. Blanco Mejia, T. A. Khan, L. Chiavaroli, A. Zurbau, S. Ayoub‑Charette, A. Almneni, M. Messina, L. A. Leiter, R. P. Bazinet, D. J. A. Jenkins, C. W. C. Kendall and J. L. Sievenpiper

Abstract

Background Dietary guidelines recommend a shift to plant-based diets. Fortified soymilk, a prototypical plant protein food used in the transition to plant-based diets, usually contains added sugars to match the sweetness of cow’s milk and is classified as an ultra-processed food. Whether soymilk can replace minimally processed cow’s milk without the adverse cardiometabolic effects attributed to added sugars and ultra-processed foods remains unclear. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials, to assess the effect of substituting soymilk for cow’s milk and its modification by added sugars (sweetened versus unsweetened) on intermediate cardiometabolic outcomes.

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Citation

BMC Medicine

Erlich, M.N., Ghidanac, D., Blanco Mejia, S. et al. A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials of substituting soymilk for cow’s milk and intermediate cardiometabolic outcomes: understanding the impact of dairy alternatives in the transition to plant-based diets on cardiometabolic health. BMC Med 22, 336 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12916-024-03524-7