Serum triacylglycerol-lowering effect of soybean β-conglycinin in mildly hypertriacylglycerolemic individuals

SummaryBackground and AimsRecent studies have documented that β-conglycinin, a soybean protein, is effective in improving levels of lipids including serum triacylglycerol. However, β-conglycinin has rarely been studied clinically. In the present study, its effects on serum lipids were examined in subjects with mild hypertriacylglycerolemia.MethodsSixty-eight subjects with serum triacylglycerol levels of 1.70–3.39 mM participated in the present placebo-controlled, randomized, double-blind study. The subjects were administered β-conglycinin 2.3 g in 4 test tablets (weighing 6 g in total) daily in the test group and 4 placebo tablets containing no β-conglycinin in the placebo group for 12 weeks.ResultsSerum triacylglycerol in the test group was significantly reduced at Weeks 4 (P<0.05) and 12 (P<0.01) compared to the placebo group.ConclusionDaily ingestion of β-conglycinin appeared to lower serum triacylglycerol levels.