Therapeutic effects of isolated soy protein in rats with acute liver failure

Proteins, as antioxidant compounds, can protect cells against free radical-induced damages. This study was conducted to investigate the protective and antioxidant effects of soy protein isolate (SPI) in acute liver failure in rats. In this experimental study, 48 rats were randomly divided into 3 groups. Groups 1 and 2 were put on a 20 % casein- and group 3 on a 20 % SPI-diet. Liver injuries were induced by injection of dimethylnitrosamine (DMN) (30mg/ml per kg, ip) in groups 2 and 3. Biochemical parameters [serum aspartate amino-transferase (AST), alanine amino-transferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total protein, albumin, total bilirubin, and malondialdehyde (MDA)], as well as histopathological changes in liver tissue, were assessed at the end of the study. Dietary SPI resulted in decrease in ALT (270.2±493.6 IU.L-1) (P<0.05) and increase in serum albumin (4.3±0.7 g.dl -1) and MDA (8.5±1.7 nmol.ml-1) levels (P<0.05). SPI did not have significant effect on other factors. Histopathological findings indicated that SPI led to improvement of the damage and rapid hepatocyte regeneration. Results of our study suggest that an SPI diet can improve acute liver damage and reduce DMN-induced complications.