Lunastatin May Lower LDL Cholesterol

FAIRFIELD, Calif.—Lunastatin™ (aka Lunasin), a chromatin–binding peptide derived from soy, appears to be an active factor responsible for the low-density lipoprotein (LDL) lowering effect of soy protein, according to an unpublished study.

Lunastatin™, from Soy Labs LLC (www.soylabs.com) was found to have inhibited expression of HMG-CoA reductase by 50 percent. Notably, HMG-CoA reductase is the enzyme necessary for the liver to produce endogenous cholesterol (the kind naturally made by the body as opposed to cholesterol related to diet). And, Lunastatin also increased expression of the LDL-R receptor gene by 60 percent (removing low-density lipoprotein (bad) cholesterol from the bloodstream). With an increased number of LDL receptors on cell membranes, more LDL cholesterol is removed from the blood, lowering circulating cholesterol levels.

"These findings indicate tremendous promise for Lunastatin as a way to safely reduce cholesterol without the side effects associated with statin drugs," stated Alfredo F. Galvez, Ph.D., molecular biologist at the NCMHD Center for Excellence in Nutritional Genomics at University of California, Davis. Galvez presented his findings at the 2006, Fourth International Conference on Soy and Health in Düsseldorf, Germany. “Lowering cholesterol is key to maintaining heart health,” stated Soy Labs president Ryan Schmidt.