Cardiovascular Research

Lunasin & Cholesterol

For years, it was commonly acknowledged that soy products were heart healthy, a claim validated in 1999 by the Food and Drug Administration. However, subsequent research called its cholesterol-lowering abilities into question. Lunasin works in two ways to lower serum LDL cholesterol levels. First, it selectively disrupts a necessary step in the production of a key enzyme, HMG-CoA reductase. Lunasin reduces the acetylation of the Histone H3 tail by PCAF (lunasin blocks PCAF's specific binding position at K14), thus reducing the level of expression of the HMG-CoA reductase gene. With levels of the HMG-CoA reductase enzyme lowered and available for the liver to carry out cholesterol synthesis, the liver in turn produces less cholesterol.

Secondly, Lunasin upregulates the expression of the LDL-receptor gene. With an increase in the number of receptors available to clear LDL cholesterol from the bloodstream, LDL levels also decrease. Studies show that in the presence of Lunasin, the levels of SP1 (the coactivator of SREBP for LDL-receptor production) are two times higher than without Lunasin present. With SP1 more readily available to bind with SREBP, the LDL receptors are produced more efficiently, so more LDL cholesterol is pulled from the bloodstream, thereby reducing the circulating serum LDL levels.

Lunasin vs. Statins

Since 70-80% of the circulating cholesterol in your body is produced within your liver, it is important to target this process in addition to consuming less saturated fat and cholesterol in your diet. Lunasin works at an earlier stage in your body’s internal cholesterol production process than prescription statins. Lunasin reduces the amount of HMG-CoA reductase enzyme produced by the HMG-CoA reductase gene. Statin drugs work by blocking the HMG-CoA reductase enzyme after it has been produced when it is on its way to carry out the body’s internal cholesterol production cycle. Statin drugs can oftentimes be too efficient and block too much of the HMG-CoA enzyme. This leads to serious side effects because a minimum level of cholesterol is required in the body for certain necessary cellular functions such as maintaining cell membrane integrity and hormone production.