- With Mayo Clinic cardiologist
Thomas Behrenbeck, M.D.
read biographyclose windowBiography of
Thomas Behrenbeck, M.D.
Thomas Behrenbeck, M.D.
Dr. Thomas Behrenbeck is a native of Germany, where he received his medical education at the Westfalian Wilhelm University in Munster and became board certified in internal medicine and cardiology.
He also received a Ph.D. in biophysics and physiology at the University of Minnesota. Dr. Behrenbeck joined the Mayo Clinic staff in 1990 and is currently an associate professor at Mayo Medical School and an academic faculty member at the Westfalian Wilhelm University. He is chair of the Cardiovascular Medicine and Surgery NetWork of the American College of Chest Physicians.
Dr. Behrenbeck is a noninvasive cardiologist, specializing in cardiovascular (CV) imaging modalities (echocardiography, nuclear cardiology, and CT), coronary artery disease and prevention of coronary artery disease. His research interests are the application of imaging technology to early recognition and treatment of atherosclerosis. He is passionate about patients' involvement in their health issues.
"The Internet and patient education present ideal synergies in the ever-growing field of knowledge in cardiology," he said.
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Question
Soy: Does it reduce cholesterol?
Does soy reduce cholesterol?
Answer
from Thomas Behrenbeck, M.D.
Probably not. An American Heart Association (AHA) committee reviewed a decade of studies on the health benefits of soy and concluded that soy-based foods and supplements don't significantly lower cholesterol.
These findings — which were published in the journal Circulation in early 2006 — could lead the Food and Drug Administration to re-examine rules that currently allow food manufacturers to promote a cholesterol-lowering benefit on the labels of soy-based foods.
Previous studies had shown that eating large amounts of soy protein lowered cholesterol. Subsequent research found that soy only minimally reduced LDL ("bad") cholesterol and had no effect on HDL ("good") cholesterol or triglycerides. In addition, this reduction came from eating significant amounts of soy, not the relatively small amounts found in many food products. Separate analysis of soy isoflavones found they had no effect on lowering LDL cholesterol.
Based on its current findings, the AHA committee said it would not recommend soy-based foods and supplements for reducing cholesterol. However, nutrition experts say soy-based foods are still good for you because they contain less saturated fat than meat does and also provide vitamins and minerals.
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