Lunasin, a Soy Peptide, May Provide Important Health Benefits

Researchers at the University of Illinois have conducted several studies on lunasin, a soy peptide often discarded in waste streams, and found promising results in its ability to fight leukemia, block inflammation, and provide benefits against chronic health conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. The studies suggest that consuming lunasin-rich soy protein may help reduce chronic inflammation, which is linked to an increased risk of malignancies. Furthermore, lunasin has been found to contain a key sequence of amino acids that triggers the death of leukemia cells and inhibits topoisomerase 2, an enzyme that marks the development of cancer.

Key Takeaways:

• Lunasin, a soy peptide, has been found to have significant levels of bioavailability in the human body, with 50 grams of soy protein consumed daily for five days resulting in measurable levels of the peptide in the participants' blood.
• The peptide has shown promise in fighting leukemia, with a key sequence of amino acids (arginine, glycine, and aspartic acid) triggering the death of leukemia cells by activating a protein called caspase-3.
• Lunasin has also been found to inhibit topoisomerase 2, an enzyme that marks the development of cancer, and reduce the number of leukemia cells killed after treatment in laboratory experiments.
• In another study, lunasin was found to have anti-inflammatory activity, blocking or reducing the activation of NF-kappa-B, a link in the chain of biochemical events that cause inflammation.
• The reduction in interleukin-6, a marker of inflammation, was particularly strong, with statistically significant reductions also found in interleukin-1.
• Chronic inflammation is associated with an increased risk of malignancies, and daily consumption of lunasin-rich soy protein may help reduce this risk.
• Soy flour contains high concentrations of lunasin, making it a potential source for nutritional interventions.
• 144 soy genotypes have been studied to determine which varieties contain the most lunasin, with some genotypes yielding high concentrations of the peptide.

Statistics:

• 50 grams of soy protein was consumed daily for five days by participants in one study, resulting in measurable levels of lunasin in their blood.
• The reduction in interleukin-6 was particularly strong, with statistically significant reductions also found in interleukin-1.
• 144 soy genotypes were studied to determine which varieties contain the most lunasin.

Sources:

• University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
• de Mejia, E. (2009, Diabetes Week via NewsRx.com)
• de Mejia, E. (no specific date, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign)