What a waste of everyone’s time.
A company that manufactures a soy-based meal replacement drink funds a study comparing a soy-based meal replacement (i.e., their product) with a “standard breakfast” which had the same number of calories but was lower in protein, higher in refined carbohydrates. They found–gasp!–that the high protein breakfast controlled hunger better and regulated fat-burning metabolism. Conclusion: Meal replacement regimes high in soy protein are beneficial for weight loss and metabolic syndrome.
What about this study design suggests that soy had anything to do with this? The results were completely predictable based solely on the glycemic load and protein content. Here, in fact, is a different study showing that you get more or less the same results using casein (milk protein).
I’ve argued in the past that industry-funded research can play a valuable part in the expensive world of nutrition research. This study, however, was a waste of time, money, and resources. It generates no useful, new information and serves only to promote a product. Shame on the researchers who dignified the study with their time and to the journal that published it.
Thanks Monica! Every research suffers from bias, but this one has a chronic condition. Peer review is where it’s at as we know. Fortunately it doesn’t require clinical researchers to see through the flaws in this study.