Dietary soy protein effects on disease and IGF-I in male and female Han:SPRD-cy rats. (49/910)

BACKGROUND: Dietary soy protein compared with casein retards disease progression in a gender-specific manner in the pcy mouse. In this model of polycystic kidney disease (PKD), kidney insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) levels are elevated. The present study examined the gender-specific effects of soy protein feeding on disease and IGF-I in Han:SPRD-cy rats. METHODS: Normal (+/+) and affected (cy/+) weanling male and female Han:SPRD-cy rats were given either casein- or soy protein-based diets for six weeks. Renal size, water content, cyst size and IGF-I, serum creatinine, urea and IGF-I, and creatinine clearance were determined. RESULTS: Soy protein-fed cy/+ animals had lower kidney weight, water content and cyst size, lower serum urea and creatinine, and higher creatinine clearance. In cy/+ females, dietary soy protein resulted in normalized serum creatinine and creatinine clearance. Kidney IGF-I levels (ng/kidney) were 32 to 76% higher in cy/+ compared with +/+ groups (P < 0.001). Soy protein feeding resulted in lower kidney IGF-I in cy/+ males (1123 vs. 1496 ng/kidney, P < 0.001) and cy/+ females (816 vs. 943 ng/kidney, P < 0.05). In males, soy protein feeding resulted in lower serum IGF-I concentrations in +/+ (1439 vs. 1708 ng/mL, P < 0.05) and in cy/+ (1483 vs. 2073 ng/mL, P < 0.001) animals. CONCLUSIONS: Dietary soy protein compared with casein delays the progression of disease in male and female Han:SPRD-cy rats. Overall, IGF-I was lower in +/+ animals, in females, and in animals consuming the soy protein diet, supporting a role for IGF-I in the pathogenesis of disease in the Han:SPRD-cy rat and an ameliorating role for dietary soy protein.  (+info)

Treatment of adjuvant-induced arthritis by oral administration of mycobacterial Hsp65 during disease. (50/910)

OBJECTIVE: Oral administration of antigen prior to disease induction has been shown to induce peripheral tolerance in several experimental autoimmune diseases. However, the clinical benefit of pretreatment with antigens is limited. The aim of this study was to investigate whether adjuvant-induced arthritis (AIA) could be treated by oral administration of mycobacterial heat-shock protein 65 (Hsp65) during ongoing disease. METHODS: AIA was induced in Lewis rats by immunization with Mycobacterium tuberculosis in Freund's incomplete adjuvant. Oral feeding of Hsp65 in the presence or absence of soybean trypsin inhibitor (SBTI) was started on day 11 after immunization. Arthritis was monitored visually, and joint pathology was examined radiologically. RESULTS: Oral treatment with Hsp65 during ongoing disease significantly reduced the activity of AIA. However, treatment with Hsp65 was only successful when SBTI was coadministered to prevent breakdown of the Hsp65. The beneficial effect of Hsp65/SBTI treatment during AIA was also represented by a clear reduction of articular destruction, as visualized by radiography. Moreover, feeding Hsp65/SBTI resulted in a lower number of both spleen and mesenteric lymph node (MLN) cells expressing the costimulatory molecule CD80 (B7-1). The number of cells expressing CD86 (B7-2) was not altered. Furthermore, MLN cells from AIA animals treated with Hsp65/SBTI contained a lower number of T cells expressing the activation marker CD134 (Ox-40). In addition, treatment with Hsp65/ SBTI was accompanied by an increased proliferative response of spleen cells to the Hsp65 antigen in vitro. Moreover, Hsp65/SBTI-treated rats showed less Hsp65-specific interferon-gamma and increased production of interleukin-10. CONCLUSION: Ongoing AIA activity can be reduced by oral administration of Hsp65 only when protein breakdown in the gastrointestinal tract is inhibited.  (+info)

Soy isoflavones improve plasma lipids in normocholesterolemic and mildly hypercholesterolemic postmenopausal women. (51/910)

BACKGROUND: Soy-protein consumption is known to reduce plasma total and LDL cholesterol concentrations. However, the responsible soy component or components and the magnitude of effects in normocholesterolemic and mildly hypercholesterolemic subjects are unclear. OBJECTIVE: The present study examined the effects of soy isoflavone consumption on plasma concentrations of triacylglycerol, apolipoprotein (apo) A-I, apo B, lipoprotein(a), and total, LDL, and HDL cholesterol and on LDL peak particle diameter in normocholesterolemic and mildly hypercholesterolemic postmenopausal women. DESIGN: In a randomized crossover trial, fasting plasma samples were obtained from 18 postmenopausal women throughout three 93-d periods of daily isolated soy protein (ISP) consumption providing an average of 7.1 +/- 1.1 (control), 65 +/- 11 (low isoflavone), or 132 +/- 22 (high isoflavone) mg isoflavones/d. RESULTS: Compared with values measured during the control diet, the plasma LDL cholesterol concentration was 6.5% lower (P < 0.02) during the high-isoflavone diet and the ratio of LDL to HDL cholesterol was 8.5% and 7.7% lower during the low- and high-isoflavone diets, respectively (P < 0.02). Isoflavone consumption did not significantly affect plasma concentrations of total or HDL cholesterol, triacylglycerol, apo A-I, apo B, or lipoprotein(a) or the LDL peak particle diameter. CONCLUSIONS: Consumption of isoflavones as a constituent of ISP resulted in small but significant improvements in the lipid profile in normocholesterolemic and mildly hypercholesterolemic postmenopausal women. Although the effects were small, it is possible that isoflavones may contribute to a lower risk of coronary heart disease if consumed over many years in conjunction with other lipid-lowering strategies.  (+info)

Ethanol-extracted soy protein isolate does not modulate serum cholesterol in golden Syrian hamsters: a model of postmenopausal hypercholesterolemia. (52/910)

Soy protein consumption has been linked to reduction in hypercholesterolemia, a risk for coronary heart disease. However, to what extent soy protein itself or its non-nutritive components, e.g., isoflavones and saponins, exert this cholesterol-lowering effect requires further investigation. To evaluate the effect of the protein component alone on lipid variables, ethanol-extracted, isoflavone-depleted soy protein isolate (SPe) was studied in ovarian hormone-deficient hamsters. Forty-eight 6-month-old female Golden Syrian hamsters were either sham-operated or ovariectomized and fed casein-based or SPe-based diets for 70 d. Ovariectomy, but not protein source, significantly (P < 0.05) increased serum phospholipids and total, non-high density lipoprotein, free and esterified cholesterol concentrations. Serum HDL cholesterol concentrations were not altered with either treatment. No significant differences were observed in liver total lipids or liver total cholesterol among the groups. Soy protein isolate, however, lowered serum triglyceride concentrations in both sham-operated and ovariectomized hamsters. These findings confirm the ovariectomized hamster as a model of postmenopausal hypercholesterolemia. The results are consistent with earlier observations that isoflavones or other nonprotein components, perhaps in combination with soy protein, play an important role in exerting this hypocholesterolemic effect. Further studies are needed to investigate whether isolated nonprotein components of soy would be able to prevent the ovarian hormone deficiency-associated rise in serum cholesterol regardless of dietary protein source.  (+info)

Effects of dietary protein types on immune responses and levels of infection with Eimeria vermiformis in mice. (53/910)

The present study reports the dietary effects of bovine alpha whey fraction, bovine casein and soy protein isolate on the immune responsiveness of C57BL/6J mice infected with Eimeria vermiformis. During the patent period, mice fed alpha whey fraction had significantly higher blood total white cell, CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocyte counts and higher Con A-stimulated IFN-gamma production by spleen cells than those fed other protein sources, but there was no significant difference in output of faecal oocysts. Casein-fed mice had significantly higher levels of Con A- stimulated IFN-gamma production and a lower output of faecal oocysts than soy-fed mice. The study demonstrated that dietary proteins have different impacts on immune responsiveness and level of parasitic infection in the gut; however, the mechanisms affecting level of infection are not clear. These effects appeared not to be solely related to nutritional properties of the diets. Further research into the underlying immune mechanisms and possible direct interactions between bioactive proteins and the parasite E. vermiformis should be fruitful.  (+info)

Effect of soy and milk whey protein isolates and their hydrolysates on weight reduction in genetically obese mice. (54/910)

The effect on genetically obese mice of a milk whey protein isolate (WPI) and soy protein isolate (SPI) and their hydrolysates (WPI-H, SPI-H) on the rate of body fat disappearance was investigated. Male yellow KK mice were made obese by feeding with a high-fat diet containing 30% fat from 6 to 10 weeks of age. They were then fed with an energy-restricted low fat (5.0%) and high protein (35% WPI, WPI-H, SPI or SPI-H) diet for 2 weeks at the 60% level of energy intake by mice on laboratory feed. During the weight reduction period, the body weight of the WPI, WPI-H, SPI and SPI-H groups changed by -9.1, -9.1, -10.0 and -11.1 g/14 days, respectively, the reduction being significantly lower in the SPI-H group than in the WPI and WPI-H groups. The plasma total cholesterol level was significantly lower with the SPI diet, and the plasma glucose level was lower with the SPI and SPI-H diets than with the WPI and WPI-H diets. Although the body protein content was comparable in all the groups, the body fat content was significantly lower with the SPI diet than with the WPI diet, and was also significantly lower with the SPI-H diet than with the WPI and WPI-H diets. The weight of the perirenal fat pads was significantly lower with the SPI-H diet than with the WPI and WPI-H diets. These results indicate that SPI and SPI-H are suitable protein sources in an energy-restricted diet for treating obesity.  (+info)

Introduction of enterostatin (VPDPR) and a related sequence into soybean proglycinin A1aB1b subunit by site-directed mutagenesis. (55/910)

Enterostatin (VPDPR), having anoretic and hypocholesterolemic activities, and its homologue LPYPR, a hypocholesterolemic peptide found in the glycinin A5A4B3 subunit, were introduced into the corresponding site (TNGPQ) of the proglycinin A1aB1b subunit by site-directed mutagenesis. Modified proglycinins were expressed in E. coli and recovered from the insoluble fraction. VPDPR and LPYPR were released by the action of chymotrypsin and trypsin as expected. The overall yields of purified VPDPR and LPYPR were 40% and 62%, respectively.  (+info)

Wheat bran and soy protein feeding do not alter urinary excretion of the isoflavan equol in premenopausal women. (56/910)

The capacity to convert the soy isoflavone daidzein to equol in vivo is presumably determined by an individual's intestinal microfloral populations; however, diet may also influence this conversion. The objectives of the present study were to determine whether a 1-mo supplementation of dietary fiber as wheat bran increases urinary equol excretion in equol excreters and stimulates equol production in nonexcreters and whether longer-term soy isoflavone intake increases equol production or alters overall urinary isoflavone excretion. First, we screened 74 women, ages 20-40 y, and determined their equol-excreter status. In these women, health and lifestyle patterns and habitual dietary intake did not differ according to equol-excreter status. Next, 26 of the women (13 equol excreters and 13 nonexcreters) were assigned (blocked on equol-excreter status) to either longer-term (1 mo) or short-term (4 d) soy protein supplementation. Within each soy treatment group, women participated in two 1-mo intervention periods (the exact length was determined by each woman's menstrual cycle) during which they consumed their usual diets supplemented daily with either 0 or 16 g dietary fiber in a randomized crossover design. A 1-mo washout period separated the two diet periods. Among the 19 women who completed both periods, fiber supplementation did not increase equol production in equol excreters or nonexcreters. In addition, isoflavonoid excretion did not differ by fiber dose or length of soy intervention. These results suggest that a daily 16 g-fiber dose as wheat bran and the addition of soy protein do not alter significantly the capacity of colonic microflora to produce equol.  (+info)