Silk Very Vanilla: a fortified soy milk, judged by soy milk research in general

Silk Very Vanilla is a fortified soy drink, and none of the trials here tested it by name. The strongest evidence is about swapping cow's milk for soy drink in general. A network meta-analysis of 14 randomized trials with 543 people found that replacing 17 fl oz (500 mL) a day of cow's milk with soy drink may lower LDL cholesterol by 18 mg/dL (0.47 mmol/L), with an interval from 0.10 to 0.85, at low certainty, and the soy drinks in those trials were mostly unsweetened. A separate review of 8 trials with 263 people called the evidence on soy milk and blood lipids limited and inconsistent, with 3 trials showing no change at all. The one set of numbers about this product is its USDA record. Per 100 g it lists 1.23 mcg of vitamin B12, 51 percent of the Daily Value, 0.21 mg of riboflavin and 144 mg of calcium, 11 percent, from a single entry without spread, and the recipe may have changed since 2019.

How much is actually in it

• Silk Very Vanilla soymilk supplies 1.23 mcg vitamin B12, 0.21 mg riboflavin and 144 mg calcium per 3.5 oz (100 g) in the USDA record. — USDA branded reference record SILK Very Vanilla, soymilk Evidence E source
  Per 100 g: vitamin B12 1.23 mcg (51% DV), riboflavin 0.21 mg (16% DV), calcium 144 mg (11% DV)
• NIH notes that soy, almond and oat drinks are often fortified with about 3 mcg (120 IU) of vitamin D per cup, similar to fortified cow's milk. — US plant milk alternatives, NIH Office of Dietary Supplements vitamin D fact sheet Evidence E source
  About 3 mcg (120 IU) vitamin D per cup when fortified
• In an audit of 129 Australian plant-based milks, 80.6% were fortified with calcium but only 27.1% with vitamin B12, and soy milk matched cow's milk for protein. — 129 plant-based milk products in Australian supermarkets (n = 129) Evidence C source
  Calcium fortified 80.6%, B12 27.1%, iodine 3.1%; soy protein not different from cow's milk
• A scoping review of 247 studies found plant-based milks nutritionally inferior to cow's milk, with fortified soy milk the exception. — 247 studies comparing alternative and conventional animal source foods (n = 247 studies) Evidence C source
  Plant-based milks except fortified soy inferior in protein and key micronutrients

What your body absorbs

• In 20 young women, calcium from calcium carbonate fortified soymilk was absorbed as well as calcium from cow's milk, and better than from tricalcium phosphate soymilk. — 20 healthy women aged about 23, 250 mg calcium test doses, 3-way crossover (n = 20) Evidence C source
  Fractional absorption 0.211 (carbonate soymilk) vs 0.217 (cow's milk) vs 0.181 (tricalcium phosphate soymilk, P < 0.05)
• In a randomized crossover test in 12 osteopenic postmenopausal women, hourly calcium absorption from fortified soymilk was 0.65 against 0.66 from cow's milk. — 12 osteopenic postmenopausal women aged about 57, Australia (n = 12) Evidence B source
  Hourly fractional calcium absorption 0.65 +/- 0.19 (fortified soymilk) vs 0.66 +/- 0.22 (cow's milk), p > 0.05
• NIH lists soy beverages among calcium-fortified milk substitutes and puts calcium absorption from fortified foods at about 30%, similar to dairy. — US foods, NIH Office of Dietary Supplements calcium fact sheet Evidence E source
  Absorption from dairy and fortified foods about 30%

What it does to your health

• A network meta-analysis of 14 RCTs with 543 people found that swapping 17 fl oz (500 mL) a day of cow's milk for soy drink may lower LDL cholesterol by 18 mg/dL (0.47 mmol/L), with low certainty. — 543 participants in 14 RCTs of at least 3 weeks comparing plant drinks and cow's milk (n = 543) Evidence A source
  LDL -18 mg/dL (-0.47 mmol/L) (95% CI -0.85 to -0.10, low certainty); HDL +0.39 mg/dL (0.01 mmol/L) (moderate certainty); systolic BP -8.23 mmHg (low certainty)
• A systematic review of 8 RCTs with 263 people found evidence that soy milk lowers blood lipids limited and inconsistent, with 3 trials showing no change. — 263 subjects in 8 randomized trials of soy milk and serum lipids (n = 263) Evidence A source
  3 trials no improvement; LDL-C lower in 3, TG in 1, TC in 1; HDL-C higher in 1
• In an 8-week RCT of 66 patients with fatty liver disease on a calorie-reduced diet, 8.1 fl oz (240 ml) of soy milk a day lowered insulin and systolic blood pressure more than diet alone. — 66 patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, 500 calories deficit diet, 8 weeks (n = 66) Evidence B source
  Insulin -3.44 vs -1.09 uIU/ml (P = 0.04); systolic BP -3.81 vs -1.48 mmHg (P = 0.01); fasting glucose not different
• In an 8-week RCT of 100 overweight women on a 500 calories deficit, three servings of fortified soy milk a day came with 7.6 lb (3.46 kg) weight loss against 9.8 lb (4.43 kg) with low-fat milk and 6.3 lb (2.87 kg) with diet alone. — 100 overweight or obese premenopausal women, 8 weeks (n = 100) Evidence B source
  Weight loss: low-fat milk 9.8 lb (4.43 kg), soy milk 7.6 lb (3.46 kg), calcium supplement 8.6 lb (3.89 kg), control 6.3 lb (2.87 kg)

Safety, limits and interactions

• In one 70-year-old man stable on warfarin, INR fell below target after he started soy milk and recovered within 2 weeks of stopping it. — 1 man aged 70 on warfarin (n = 1) Evidence D source
  Subtherapeutic INR during soy milk; causality rated possible to probable
• The North American pediatric gastroenterology society advises that only infant formula should replace breast milk in the first year, and that plant-based milks are not nutritionally equivalent to cow's milk. — infants and young children, NASPGHAN position paper Evidence E source
  Position statement
• A systematic review of 6 studies in children found plant-based milk drinkers had lower BMI, height and vitamin D than cow's milk drinkers, while fortified soy milk may support bone density in girls with low calcium intake. — children and adolescents aged 1-18, 6 studies, total n 15,815 (n = 15815) Evidence C source
  Lower BMI, height and serum vitamin D with plant-based milk; higher bone density with fortified soy milk in low-calcium adolescent girls
• Observational data link each daily cup of plant-based drink in five-year-olds with a height-for-age z-score 0.04 lower, about 0.08 in (0.2 cm). — infants, children and adolescents, structured literature review Evidence C source
  Height-for-age z -0.04 (-0.07 to -0.01), BMI-for-age z -0.06 (-0.09 to -0.03) per cup

What people believe that the data does not support

• FDA draft guidance from 2023 suggests plant-based milks may carry a voluntary label statement such as: Contains lower amounts of Vitamin D and calcium than milk. — US labeling of plant-based milk alternatives Evidence E source
  Voluntary nutrient statement recommended in draft, non-binding guidance

The bottom line

Calcium in fortified soy milk is absorbed about as well as calcium in cow's milk, depending on the calcium salt used. In 20 young women given a single 250 mg dose after an overnight fast, soy milk fortified with calcium carbonate gave fractional absorption of 0.211 against 0.217 for cow's milk, while soy milk with tricalcium phosphate gave 0.181, in a crossover whose abstract does not state randomization. The USDA record does not say which calcium form Silk Very Vanilla uses. In a randomized acute test in 12 osteopenic postmenopausal women, hourly absorption was 0.65 from fortified soy milk and 0.66 from cow's milk. NIH puts calcium absorption from dairy and fortified foods at about 30 percent, a general figure never measured for this brand. Among plant milks, fortified soy is the one that holds up. A scoping review of 247 studies judged plant-based milks nutritionally inferior to cow's milk, with fortified soy the exception. In an audit of 129 Australian plant milks, 80.6 percent had added calcium, 27.1 percent had added B12 and 3.1 percent had added iodine, and soy matched cow's milk for protein. NIH says soy, almond and oat drinks are often fortified with about 3 mcg (120 IU) of vitamin D per cup, and that the label gives the actual amount. A 2023 FDA draft guidance, voluntary and not yet final, suggests plant milks may state that they contain lower amounts of vitamin D and calcium than milk. The weight and liver trials used soy milk inside a calorie-cut diet. In 100 overweight premenopausal women on a 500 calories deficit for 8 weeks, three servings a day of fortified soy milk came with 7.6 lb (3.46 kg) of weight loss, against 9.8 lb (4.43 kg) with low-fat milk and 6.3 lb (2.87 kg) on the diet alone, and the abstract reports no direct test of soy against diet alone. In 66 patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease on the same kind of deficit, 8.1 fl oz (240 ml) a day for 8 weeks lowered insulin by 3.44 against 1.09 uIU/ml and systolic pressure by 3.81 against 1.48 mmHg, with no placebo and no difference in fasting glucose. Who should be careful. For babies in the first year, the North American pediatric gastroenterology society holds that only infant formula should replace breast milk, and that plant milks are not an equivalent source of nutrients. In children, observational studies link plant milk with lower BMI, height and vitamin D than cow's milk. One review puts each daily cup at age five at about 0.08 in (0.2 cm) less height, with no randomized trial behind the figure. One study in adolescent girls with low calcium intake found higher bone density with fortified soy milk. On warfarin, one 70-year-old man's INR fell below target after he started soy milk and recovered within 2 weeks of stopping, a single case report. We found no portion data for this product and no study of heating or storing it.

Sources

1. svv-r3-01 · USDA FoodData Central SR Legacy, dataset
   SILK Very Vanilla, soymilk (FDC 173774, SR Legacy, Legumes and Legume Products): vitamin B12 1.23 mcg per 100 g = 51% DV; riboflavin 0.21 mg = 16% DV; calcium 144 mg = 11% DV; Foundation samples 0, CoFID match none
   USDA FoodData Central, SR Legacy, FDC 173774 · checked 2026-09-29
2. svv-r3-05 · agency fact sheet
   Plant milk alternatives (such as beverages made from soy, almond, or oats) are often fortified with similar amounts of vitamin D to those in fortified cow's milk (about 3 mcg [120 IU]/cup); the Nutrition Facts label lists the actual amount [24].
   NIH ODS, Vitamin D Fact Sheet for Health Professionals · checked 2026-09-29
3. svv-r3-14 · cross-sectional
   One hundred twenty-nine plant-based milk products were identified in the audit, primarily almond, oat and soy-based beverages. Of these, 80.6% were fortified with calcium; however, fortification with other micronutrients was less common, ranging from 27.1% being fortified with vitamin B12 and 3.1% being fortified with iodine. ... However, there was no significant difference in protein content between soy milk and cow's milk.
   Nutr Diet, 2025 · checked 2026-09-29
4. svv-r3-15 · scoping review
   However, plant-based and fungi-based alternatives typically contained low bioavailable protein (except soy milk), vitamin B12, zinc, and iron. Plant-based milks, except fortified soy, were nutritionally inferior to cow's milk, particularly in terms of protein and key micronutrients.
   Lancet Planet Health, 2026 · checked 2026-09-29
5. svv-r3-02 · crossover trial
   In a 3-way crossover design, 20 volunteers (23 +/- 2 y old) consumed 250 mg Ca in cow's milk, CCSM, or TCPSM along with 10 mg 44Ca after an overnight fast. ... Fractional Ca absorption in CCSM (0.211 +/- 0.057) did not differ from that of cow's milk (0.217 +/- 0.040), but both were higher (P < 0.05) than that of TCPSM (0.181 +/- 0.039).
   J Nutr, 2005 · checked 2026-09-29
6. svv-r3-03 · randomized crossover trial
   Calcium absorption from fortified soy milk compared to cow's milk was examined using a randomised single-blind acute cross-over design study in 12 osteopenic post-menopausal women aged (mean +/- SD) 56.7+/-5.3 years, with a body mass index of 26.5+/-5.6 kg/m2. ... The mean hourly fractional calcium absorption from fortified soymilk was found to be comparable to that of cows' milk: alpha = 0.65+/-0.19 and alpha =0.66+/-0.22, p>0.05, respectively.
   Asia Pac J Clin Nutr, 2010 · checked 2026-09-29
7. svv-r3-04 · agency fact sheet
   In the United States, foods that are fortified with calcium include many fruit juices and drinks, milk substitutes (e.g., soy and almond beverages), tofu, and ready-to-eat cereals [1,8]. Calcium citrate malate is a well-absorbed form of calcium used in some fortified juices [3]. Calcium absorption varies by type of food. The absorption of calcium from dairy products and fortified foods is about 30% [1].
   NIH ODS, Calcium Fact Sheet for Health Professionals · checked 2026-09-29
8. svv-r3-06 · network meta-analysis of RCTs
   Fourteen RCTs involving 543 participants were included, comparing soy-, rice-, oat drinks, and cow milk. ... Replacing 500 mL/d of cow's milk with soy drink may reduce low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol [MD: -0.47 mmol/L (-0.85; -0.10); low certainty], but showed no effect for high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol [MD: 0.01 mmol/L (-0.03; 0.05); moderate certainty]. ... Replacing 500 mL/d of cow milk with soy drink may reduce systolic and diastolic blood pressure [MD: -8.23 mmHg (-10.90; -5.55); MD: -7.82 mmHg (-13.61; -2.02); low certainty].
   Adv Nutr, 2026 · checked 2026-09-29
9. svv-r3-07 · systematic review of RCTs
   Eight eligible trials comprising a total of 263 subjects were included in this review. Three studies reported no significant improvement in any of the serum lipid parameters following soy milk consumption. A significant decrease in serum TG, TC, and LDL-C was reported by 1, 1 and 3 trials. ... CONCLUSION: Evidence from clinical trials regarding the hypolipidemic effect of soy milk is limited and controversial.
   Complement Ther Med, 2019 · checked 2026-09-29
10. svv-r3-08 · randomized controlled trial
    Sixty-sex patients diagnosed with NAFLD were included in this randomized, parallel, controlled trial and were randomly assigned to either the soy milk or control group. Both groups received a 500-deficit calorie diet plan. Also, patients in the soy milk group consumed 240 ml/day soy milk for 8 weeks. ... RESULTS: After 8-weeks of intervention, soy milk group had a greater significant reduction in serum insulin(-3.44 ± 5.02 vs. -1.09 ± 3.77 μIU/ml, P = 0.04), HOMA-IR (-0.45±0.64 vs -0.14 ± 0.47, P = 0.03), systolic (-3.81±4.15 vs -1.48±2.93 mmHg, P = 0.01)
    Complement Ther Med, 2019 · checked 2026-09-29
11. svv-r3-09 · randomized controlled trial
    In this clinical trial, 100 healthy overweight or obese premenopausal women were randomized to one of the following dietary regimens for 8 weeks: ... Weight reductions in high milk, soy milk, calcium supplement and control groups were 4.43±1.93(kg), 3.46±1.28(kg), 3.89±2.40(kg) and 2.87±1.55(kg), respectively.
    Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis, 2011 · checked 2026-09-29
12. svv-r3-10 · case report
    A 70-year-old white man who was stable on warfarin therapy developed subtherapeutic INR values after ingesting soy protein in the form of soy milk. ... INR values returned to therapeutic concentrations within 2 weeks after discontinuation of the soy milk.
    Ann Pharmacother, 2002 · checked 2026-09-29
13. svv-r3-11 · consensus statement
    It is the position of the North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition (NASPGHAN) Nutrition Committee, on behalf of the society, that only appropriate commercial infant formulas be used as alternatives to human milk in the first year of life. ... Consumer education is required to clarify that PBMs do not represent an equivalent source of such nutrients.
    J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr, 2020 · checked 2026-09-29
14. svv-r3-12 · systematic review
    A total of 6 studies were identified: 3 cross-sectional studies, 1 prospective cohort study, and 2 clinical trials (total n = 15,815). Observational studies found that consumption of plant-based milk was associated with lower childhood body mass index (BMI), height, and serum vitamin D concentrations compared with cow milk. ... 1 study found that adolescent girls with low calcium intake who consumed fortified soy milk had higher bone density compared with those who did not consume soy milk.
    J Nutr, 2024 · checked 2026-09-29
15. svv-r3-13 · review
    The height-for-age z-score was -0.04 [-0.07; -0.01] and the BMI-for-age z-score was -0.06 [-0.09; -0.03] for each cup of PBMA in five-year-olds, corresponding to reductions of 0.2 cm in height and 0.1 kg in weight. ... Our search did not retrieve any longitudinal studies on long-term outcomes or any randomized intervention trials comparing the consumption of cow's milk and PBMA.
    Dtsch Arztebl Int, 2026 · checked 2026-09-29
16. svv-r3-16 · agency guidance
    Contains lower amounts of Vitamin D and calcium than milk.
    US FDA, press announcement on draft labeling recommendations for plant-based milk alternatives, February 22, 2023 · checked 2026-09-29