Dietary Soy β-Conglycinin (7S Globulin) Inhibits Atherosclerosis in Mice

• Published in: The Journal of nutrition Vol. 134; no. 3; pp. 511 - 516
• Main Authors: Adams, Michael R., Golden, Deborah L., Anthony, Mary S., Franke, Adrian A., Potter, Susan M., Smith, Houston S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bethesda, MD Elsevier Inc 01.03.2004; American Society for Nutritional Sciences
• Subjects: 7S globulin; animal models; Animals; Antigens, Plant; apolipoproteins; Apolipoproteins E - deficiency; Apolipoproteins E - genetics; Apolipoproteins E - physiology; Arteriosclerosis - prevention & control; atherosclerosis; beta-conglycinin; Biological and medical sciences; blood lipids; cardioprotective effect; casein; cholesteremic effect; Cholesterol - blood; Cholesterol Esters - metabolism; cholesteryl esters; Diet; dietary protein; Disease Models, Animal; Feeding. Feeding behavior; Female; females; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; globulins; Globulins - therapeutic use; Glycine max; glycinin; isoflavones; lactalbumin; lipoproteins; low density lipoprotein; Male; males; Mice; Mice, Knockout; Ovariectomy; Phytotherapy; protein isolates; protein sources; receptors; Receptors, LDL - deficiency; Receptors, LDL - genetics; Receptors, LDL - physiology; Seed Storage Proteins; Sex Characteristics; soy protein; Soybean Proteins - therapeutic use; storage proteins; transgenic animals; Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems; atherosclerosis; HMF; apo; soy protein; 7S globulin; ILDL; mice; lipoproteins; Nutrition; Rodentia; Cardiovascular disease; Lipoprotein; Soybean; Globulin; Vascular disease; Soy protein; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Mouse; Animal; Atherosclerosis
• ISSN: 0022-3166; 1541-6100
• DOI: 10.1093/jn/134.3.511

Although β-conglycinin (7S globulin), a major soy storage protein, stimulates the expression of LDL receptors and the degradation of LDL by hepatocytes in vitro, the in vivo effects of dietary β-conglycinin on the cardiovascular system are unknown. We assessed the effects of dietary β-conglycinin and other soy peptide fractions on the development of atherosclerosis in atherosclerosis-susceptible mice. At 6 wk of age, male and ovariectomized female apolipoprotein (apo) E-null mice and LDL receptor-null, apoB transgenic mice were assigned randomly to treatment groups that differed only in the source of dietary protein: 1) casein/lactalbumin, 2) isoflavone-containing soy protein isolate, 3) β-conglycinin, 4) glycinin (11S globulin, another major soy storage protein), 5) β-conglycinin-devoid soy protein, and 6) W008 (a peptide fraction produced by hydrolysis and precipitation of soy protein isolate). After 4 mo, aortic atherosclerosis (cholesteryl ester content) and plasma lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations were quantified using GLC. Relative to mice fed casein/lactalbumin–based diets, the extent of atherosclerosis was reduced in ovariectomized female mice fed all soy protein–containing diets. Relative to mice fed isoflavone-containing soy protein isolate, atherosclerosis was reduced only in mice fed the β-conglycinin–containing diet. Mean reductions were 39 and 67% (all P <0.05) in male and ovariectomized female apoE null mice and 66% (P < 0.05) in male LDL receptor null mice. These effects were unrelated to variation in isoflavone content of the protein source and only minimally related to plasma lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations. We conclude that a diet rich in β-conglycinin has atheroprotective effects that greatly exceed those of isoflavone-containing soy protein isolate and do not depend on LDL receptors or influences on plasma lipoproteins.