Influence of soy protein and exercises with weights on the resting energy expenditure of women in post-menopause

Abstract

Objective. The main objective of this study was to analyze the influence of soy protein ingestion and exercises with weights, on resting energy expenditure (REE) of women in post-menopause. Methods. Clinical trial, 16 weeks, involving 60 women, 59 (7) years, distributed in 4 groups: G1 (soy protein and exercise), G2 (placebo and exercise), 3 (soy protein and without exercise) and 4 (placebo and without exercise). Randomly, soy protein and placebo (maltodextrin) were distributed in powder form, in portions of 25 grams/ day. There were 10 exercises with weights, performed in 3 sessions a week with 3 sets of 8-12 repetitions each, load of 60-80% of 1 maximum repetition (RM). The REE was calculated from the O2nd CO2, obtained through indirect calorimetry (Quinton QMC®) for 30 minutes under controlled temperature and humidity. For statistical analysis, ANOVA, Student's t test and multiple regression were used with the software Stata 9.2, α<0.05. Results. Women presented homogeneity in all variables of the study. Significantly, there was an increase of the REE (p <0.05) in G1 (158 kcal/ day) and G2 (110 kcal/ day), corresponding to 17% and 9%, respectively, while G4 decreased by 4% (p<0.05). Conclusion. Exercises with weights are determinants for increase in resting energy expenditure of women in post-menopause, and can be potentiaized by ingestion of soy protein.