Soystatin (VAWWMY), a novel bile acid-binding peptide, decreased micellar solubility and inhibited cholesterol absorption in rats.

This study was designed to identify a novel peptide derived from soybean protein that induces inhibition of cholesterol absorption in vivo. VAWWMY (Val-Ala-Trp-Trp-Met-Tyr, designated soystatin) had a significantly greater ability to bind bile acid than soybean protein peptic hydrolysate (SPH) or casein tryptic hydrolysate (CTH). Surprisingly, the bile-acid binding ability of VAWWMY was almost as strong as that of the hypocholesterolemic medicine cholestyramine. The micellar solubility of cholesterol was significantly lower in the presence of VAWWMY than in that of SPH or CTH. We found that soystatin derived from soybean glycinin acted as an inhibitor of cholesterol absorption in vivo.