Abstract
Soyasaponins : Soyasaponins are triterpene glycosides that possess an oleanane-type aglycone with 1 or 2 polysaccharide chains. Due to differences in the aglycone compounds, soyasaponins are mainly classified as group A or B soyasaponins. Soyasaponins, especially group B soyasaponins, have been reported to have several physiological functions such as antioxidative, cholesterol-lowering, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, renin-inhibiting, hepatoprotective, and antitumor effects. We found that group B soyasaponins are more readily absorbed than group A soyasaponins, which may explain why group B soyasaponins exhibit more potent effects.
Vitamin K2 : Vitamin K is a cofactor required for post-translational gamma-carboxylation of vitamin K-dependent proteins, including coagulation factors, anti-coagulation factors, osteocalcin (OC) in bone, and matrix Gla proteins (MGP) in arteries. Among major vitamin K homologues in foods, only vitamin K2 as menaquinone-7 (MK-7) can activate osteocalcin, which modulates bone structure at nutritional doses. Vitamin K2 also induces collagen accumulation in bone, contributing to bone quality and strength. In addition, MK-7 activates MGP, an artery calcification inhibitor, and is reported to be associated with the prevention of cardiovascular diseases. The higher efficacy of MK-7 compared to other vitamin K homologues is due to the better absorption and longer half-life of MK-7.
