Alleviating Pregnancy-Related Stress: The Impact of Visoy, a Soybean-Sweet Potato Supplement, on Cortisol and Anxiety Levels

Abstract

Background: Bioactive compound-rich dietary supplements may help alleviate stress-related hormonal imbalances during pregnancy. Method: This quasi-experimental study examined the effects of Visoy, a functional supplement combining soybean and purple sweet potato, on anxiety symptoms and cortisol levels in 60 pregnant women aged 20–35 years with mild to severe anxiety and no chronic diseases. Participants were randomly assigned to intervention and control groups, using a pretest-posttest design. Results: Visoy supplementation significantly improved the intake of antioxidants, energy, fat, and vitamin C, which was associated with notable improvements in cortisol regulation. A significantly higher proportion of participants in the intervention group reached normal cortisol levels post-intervention (93.3%) compared to the control group (66.7%, p=0.010), and mean cortisol levels significantly decreased in the intervention group while increasing in the control (p=0.013). Anxiety scores also declined significantly in both groups; however, the reduction was significantly greater in the intervention group (p=0.000). No significant correlation was found between cortisol levels and anxiety scores at any stage, suggesting independent or complex interactions between physiological and psychological responses. Conclusions and Suggestions: These findings suggest that Visoy may positively influence maternal stress physiology and emotional well-being through distinct pathways. As a non-pharmacological, food-based intervention, Visoy holds promise for enhancing prenatal care. Future research should explore its long-term effects, underlying mechanisms, and applicability in broader populations using more sensitive biomarkers and placebo-controlled designs.

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