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

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.