Reduction by phytate-reduced soybean β-conglycinin of plasma triglyceride level of young and adult rats

This study examined the effects of soybean beta -conglycinin, from which phytate was mostly removed, on the plasma lipids in young and adult rats. Male Wistar young (6 week-old) and adult (21 week-old) rats were fed high cholesterol diets containing 20% casein, soy protein isolate (SPI), or soybean beta -conglycinin for 10 days. In young rats, although the food intake of the beta -conglycinin group was higher than those of the casein and SPI groups, the weight gain was significantly lower than those of the other groups. However, in adult rats, the weight gain was not different among the groups. In young and adult rats, relative liver weights of SPI and beta -conglycinin groups were significantly lower than that of the casein group, and the degree of the reduction was more marked in the beta -conglycinin group than in the SPI group. In young rats, the plasma triglyceride level was significantly lower in the SPI and beta -conglycinin groups than that in the casein group. In addition, the plasma triglyceride level of the beta -conglycinin group was significantly lower than that of the SPI group. Plasma total cholesterol levels of the SPI and beta -conglycinin groups were significantly lower than that of the casein group. However, there was little difference in the lowering effect between SPI and beta -conglycinin. These results indicate that soybean beta -conglycinin may have lowering functions not only on plasma total cholesterol level, but also on plasma triglyceride level.