Soya Protein May Reduce The Risk Of Heart Diseases

The domestic soya producing and processing industry is likely to get the much needed boost for promoting soya products such as soya milk, soya flour and soya protein concentrate as experts, in a latest finding, have stated that a daily intake of 25 grams of soya protein may reduce the risk of human heart disease.

This finding was revealed in a presentation by Susan M Potter, director Department of Nutritional Sciences, Health Benefits and Nutraceuticals, Du Pont Protein Technologies International.

Moreover, work is underway to study the potential effects of soya on blood vessel elasticity and reduction of plaque formation. In 1999, the United States Federal Drug Administration had also approved the health claim that a daily intake of soya does reduce the low density level (LDL) cholesterol thereby lowering risks of heart attacks.

Despite being the fifth largest producer of soyabean, the Indian soya industry had been mainly concentrating on soyameal as the commodity had failed to become a household item due to lake of awareness. The producing industry too, had been sceptical to entre the processed soya market since earlier trials of soya milk and soya flour had failed to lure the consumers.

Foreva, the women's healthcare division of Unichem Laboratories Ltd had recently launched an isolated soya protein supplement called 'Nutreva'.

Potter said that the bioactive components of soya protein such as saponins, isoflavones, phytic acids and protease inhibitors help in preventing development of atherosclerosis, promotion of healthy blood vessel, acts as an anti-toxidants and calcium channel inhibitors, prevents blood clotting, anti-inflammatory agents and lowers blood pressure.

"Clinical trials are currently underway to determine the role of soya protein in cancer prevention and management, since several components found in soya protein such as isoflavones, amino acids, trypsin inhibitors and saponins have demonstrated anti-cancer effects in animal and human cancer cell," she said.

Epidemiological studies indicate a lower risk of hormone dependent cancers among Japanese and Chinese women who typically consume high soya diet," she added.