Stronger suppression of plasma cholesterol and enhancement of the fecal excretion of steroids by a buckwheat protein product than by a soy protein isolate in rats fed on a cholesterol-free diet.

We investigated the effects of a buckwheat protein product (BWP), soy protein isolate (SPI) and casein on the plasma cholesterol level and fecal steroid excretion in rats fed on a cholesterol-free diet. The consumption of BWP suppressed plasma cholesterol by enhancing the fecal excretion of both neutral and acidic steroids. These effects of BWP were stronger than those of SPI.