Suppressive effect of Okara on intestinal lipid digestion and absorption in mice ingesting high-fat diet.

Soymilk residue Okara is paid attention as a low-calorie foodstuff effective for the amelioration of obesity, and expected to have the potential ability to reduce calorie intake by suppressing the digestion and absorption of high-calorie nutrients in the intestinal tract. Then, the direct effect of Okara extract on lipase activity was examined, and this extract was shown to inhibit the enzyme activity. On the other hand, the spray-dried powder of Okara extract was suspended in a drinking water and given to mice fed with a high-fat diet. Consequently, Okara suspension was shown to reduce triglyceride (TG) levels in the blood, thus suggesting that Okara ingestion could suppress the digestion and absorption of lipids through the inhibition of lipase activity in the intestinal tract. Therefore, Okara is speculated to have the potential ability to prevent the excess intake of calories, thereby being effective and useful for the amelioration of metabolic syndrome.