New! Sign up for our free email newsletter.
Science News
from research organizations

Soybean Product Fights Abnormal Protein Involved In Alzheimer’s Disease

Date:
February 20, 2009
Source:
American Chemical Society
Summary:
A vegan food renowned in Asia for its ability to protect against heart attacks also shows a powerful ability in lab experiments to prevent formation of the clumps of tangled protein involved in Alzheimer's disease, scientists are reporting. 
Share:
FULL STORY

A vegan food renowned in Asia for its ability to protect against heart attacks also shows a powerful ability in lab experiments to prevent formation of the clumps of tangled protein involved in Alzheimer’s disease, scientists in Taiwan are reporting. 

Rita P. Y. Chen and colleagues point out that people in Asia have been eating natto — a fermented food made from boiled soybeans —for more than 1,000 years. Natto contains an enzyme, nattokinase, that has effects similar to clot-busting drugs used in heart disease.Nattokinase is sold a dietary supplement to improve the body’s circulatory system.

The scientists term this the first study on whether nattokinase also can dissolve amyloids. Those tangled proteins are involved in Alzheimer’s disease and several other health problems.

In the study, the nattokinase degraded several kinds of amyloid fibrils, suggesting its possible use in the treatment of amyloid-related diseases. “Moreover, since natto has been ingested by humans for a long time, it would be worthwhile to carry out an epidemiological study on the rate of occurrence of various amyloid-related diseases in a population regularly consuming natto,” the scientists say.


Story Source:

Materials provided by American Chemical Society. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


Journal Reference:

  1. Hsu et al. Amyloid-Degrading Ability of Nattokinase from Bacillus subtilis Natto. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 2009; 57 (2): 503 DOI: 10.1021/jf803072r

Cite This Page:

American Chemical Society. "Soybean Product Fights Abnormal Protein Involved In Alzheimer’s Disease." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 20 February 2009. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/02/090218223842.htm>.
American Chemical Society. (2009, February 20). Soybean Product Fights Abnormal Protein Involved In Alzheimer’s Disease. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 28, 2024 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/02/090218223842.htm
American Chemical Society. "Soybean Product Fights Abnormal Protein Involved In Alzheimer’s Disease." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/02/090218223842.htm (accessed March 28, 2024).

Explore More

from ScienceDaily

RELATED STORIES