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Nutrition

C · Interpret with caution

Soy protein or animal protein with strength training

Subject: Soy protein versus animal protein

What this means

With strength training, soy protein produced similar gains in strength and lean body mass as whey and other animal proteins. No differences were found between the groups.

Messina M, Lynch H, Dickinson JM, Reed KE · 2018 · International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism 28(6):674-685

What does this rating mean?

Limited, mixed or hard-to-translate evidence. Useful as direction, not as a rule.

Findings

No difference between soy protein and animal protein for muscle mass and strength with strength training.

Who this applies to

People who did strength training for at least 6 weeks while taking a protein supplement.

Size of the research

9 studies with a total of 266 participants.

What to keep in mind

Only a few studies were included. In the 5 studies comparing only whey and soy, lean body mass did not clearly increase in either group.

Practical conclusion for REZA

Included with that caveat, as an example of how REZA handles conflicts of interest. The conclusion aligns with the animal-versus-plant-protein study, which carries no comparable interest.

View method and source

Methodology

Systematic review with meta-analysis

Conflict of interest

The first author has known ties to the soy industry. That doesn't automatically make the conclusion wrong, but it is worth noting.

Original source

DOI: 10.1123/ijsnem.2018-0071 · PMID: 29722584

View on PubMed →

This information is general education about scientific research. It is not personal medical advice and does not replace diagnosis or treatment by a doctor or other healthcare professional. If you have symptoms, a medical condition or take medication, consult your GP or treating professional before changing your training or nutrition.