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Soybean oil

Soybean oil is made from the seeds of the soybean plant. Chemicals isolated from soybean oil are used to reduce total cholesterol and bad LDL cholesterol levels. Specially processed soybean oil is used to treat osteoarthritis. Some people apply soybean oil directly to the skin to repel mosquitoes and other insects.

How does soybean oil work?

Soybeanoil can lower cholesterol levels by reducing cholesterol absorption in the digestive tract. Specially processed parts of soybean oil, known as unsaponifiables, may have beneficial effects on joints.

How effective is soybean oil?

Soybean oil is effective as a nutritional supplement in an intravenous diet. Soybean oil is likely to be effective when applied to the skin to repel mosquitoes. Soybean oil is an ingredient in some commercially available mosquito repellents. It appears to work about as well as other products, including products containing a small amount of DEET.

Soybeanoil may be effective in the following applications:

  • Lowering cholesterol levels in people with high cholesterol levels: The plant sterols contained in soybean oil, which are used in margarine, appear to help lower total cholesterol levels and levels of bad LDL cholesterol without affecting levels of good HDL cholesterol.
  • Osteoarthritis when a specifically processed portion of the oil (unsaponifiable fractions) is used in conjunction with avocado oil: This combination appears to significantly reduce pain and overall disability. This combination seems to work better for osteoarthritis of the hip than for osteoarthritis of the knees.

Safety and side effects

Soybean oil is safe for most adults when taken orally in the amounts normally found in food and when used on the skin as a mosquito repellent. Pharmaceutical grade soybean oil is safe for use as a nutritional supplement in an intravenous diet. Processed soybean oil (unsaponifiable fractions of soybean oil) has been safely used in research studies for up to 6 months.

Precautions and warnings

Pregnancy and lactation: Soybean oil is safe for pregnant and lactating women as part of their diet. However, not enough is known about the safety of using large amounts during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Peanut or soy allergy: People who are allergic to peanuts, soybeans or other plants of the Fabaceae/Leguminosea family may also be allergic to soybean oil.

Interactions

At this time, there is no information on interactions of soybean oil with medications or supplements.

Dosage

The following dosages have been investigated in scientific studies:

Oral

  • In the form of fortified margarine: one serving (one tablespoon or 14 grams).
  • For osteoarthritis: 300 mg of soybean oil daily in combination with avocado oil

Applied to the skin

  • To prevent mosquito bites: 2% soybean oil products were used. The application instructions on a commercial product recommend applying every 2 hours.

References

  1. Aguila MB, Sa Silva SP, Pinheiro AR, Mandarim-de-Lacerda CA. Effects of long-term intake of edible oils on hypertension and myocardial and aortic remodeling in spontaneously hypertensive rats. J Hypertens 2004;22:921-9. view abstract.
  2. Bardare M, Magnolfi C, Zani G. Soy sensitivity: personal observation on 71 children with food intolerance. Allerg Immunol (Paris) 1988;20:63-6.
  3. Drugs in Pregnancy and Lactation. 4th ed. Baltimore, MD: Williams & Wilkins, 1994.
  4. Eigenmann PA, Burks AW, Bannon GA, et al. Identification of unique peanut and soy allergens in sera adsorbed with cross-reacting antibodies. J Allergy Clin Immunol 1996;98:969-78. view abstract.
  5. Electronic Code of Federal Regulations. Title 21. Part 182 -- Substances Generally Recognized As Safe. Available at: http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=ecfr&sid= 786bafc6f6343634fbf79fcdca7061e1&rgn=div5&view= text&node=21:3.0.1.1.13&idno=21
  6. FDA. Center for Science in the Public Interest. A Food Labeling Guide. Available at: http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/flg-6c.html
  7. Fradin MS, Day JF. Comparative efficacy of insect repellents against mosquito bites. N Engl J Med 2002;347:13-8. view abstract.
  8. Ganji V, Gravel CV. Psyllium husk fiber supplementation to soybean and coconut oil diets of humans: effect on fat digestibility and faecal fatty acid excretion. Eur J Clin Nutr 1994;48:595-7. view abstract.
  9. Henrotin YE, Sanchez C, Deberg MA, et al. Avocado/soybean unsaponifiables increase aggrecan synthesis and reduce catabolic and proinflammatory mediator production by human osteoarthritic chondrocytes. J Rheumatol 2003;30:1825-34. View abstract.
  10. Lequesne M, Maheu E, Cadet C, Dreiser RL. Structural effect of avocado/soybean unsaponifiables on joint space loss in osteoarthritis of the hip. Arthritis Rheum 2002;47:50-8. View abstract.
  11. Lichtenstein AH, Ausman LM, Jalbert SM, et al. Effects of different forms of dietary hydrogenated fats on serum lipoprotein cholesterol levels. N Engl J Med 1999;340:1933-40. view abstract.
  12. Maheu E, Mazieres B, Valat JP, et al. Symptomatic efficacy of avocado/soybean unsaponifiables in the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee and hip: a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter clinical trial with a six-month treatment period and a two-month followup demonstrating a persistent effect. Arthritis Rheum 1998;41:81-91. View abstract.
  13. Public Health Agency of Canada. Canadian Recommendations for the Prevention and Treatment of Malaria Among International Travelers. Available at: http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/publicat/ccdr-rmtc/04vol30/30s1/page2_e.html (Accessed May 24, 2005).
  14. Stuchlik M, Zak S. Lipid-based vehicle for oral drug delivery. Biomed Pap Med Fac Univ Palacky Olomouc Czech Repub 2001;145:17-26. View abstract.
  15. Weststrate JA, Meijer GW. Plant sterol-enriched margarines and reduction of plasma total- and LDL-cholesterol concentrations in normocholesterolaemic and mildly hypercholesterolaemic subjects. Eur J Clin Nutr 1998;52:334-43. view abstract.