Effects of Soybean-germ Oil on Reducing Serum Cholesterol Level

Abstract

Soybean-germ oil was extracted from hypocotyle enriched soybean raw material and was found to contain 4 times as much phytosterol as soybean oil. Its capacity for cholesterol diminishing effects in human was evaluated. Ninety-one healthy male volunteers, average age 44 (SD10), and serum total cholesterol (TC) below 260 mg/dl, were made to consume two eggs per day for 3 weeks. Serum TC increased in 39 subjects (≥10mg/dl) due to this consumption. Thirty of the subjects with TC above 180 mg/dl were divided into 3 groups which consumed test food with two eggs everyday for another 3 weeks. The test food was mayonnaise containing 22g cooking oil. The test groups were i) 22g Soybean-germ oil, ii) 11g Soybean-germ oil + 11g Safflower oil and iii) 22g Safflower oil. Serum TC and LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) increased in the 22g Safflower oil per day control group. Increase in serum TC and LDL-C was noted to decrease in the 11g or 22g Soybean-germ oil per day group. Serum TC and LDL-C differed significantly in the Soybean-germ oil intake and control groups. The daily intake of Soybean-germ oil thus appears effective for lessening serum TC and LDL-C in human subjects.