Reading time: approx. 1 minute 45 seconds
January 27, 2026 AM09:10
Koya tofu, which is rich in resistant protein, has an unknown mechanism of lowering postprandial blood sugar levels and blood lipids.
Shinshu University announced on January 13 that it has been shown that protein derived from Koya tofu and resistant protein, which is abundant in Koya tofu, reduce weight gain and fatty liver in mice caused by high-fat diet. This research was carried out by a research group including Professor Naoki Tanaka of the International Exchange Promotion Office of the University’s School of Medicine and the Department of International Medical Research Promotion of the Graduate School of Medical Science and Engineering, and Takahiro Ishiguro, Director of Research Institute of Asahimatsu Foods Co., Ltd. Published in “Macromolecules”.
Image from release
(For details, please check the related link ▼)
The proportion of obese people is increasing around the world due to changes in lifestyle, including dietary habits. Obesity is a risk factor that leads to various diseases such as diabetes, fatty liver, dyslipidemia, and arteriosclerosis, so prevention of obesity is an urgent issue. It has been reported in a small-scale study that koya tofu lowers the metabolism, but the effect of koya tofu on metabolism and its mechanism were completely unknown.
Koya tofu protein/resistant protein group, reduction in weight gain and fatty liver
When mice were fed a normal diet and a high-fat diet for 16 weeks, mice on the high-fat diet gained significantly more weight and developed fatty liver than those on the regular diet.
Increased intestinal azelaic acid increases GLP-1 production in the ileum and promotes fat burning.
When these proteins derived from Koya tofu were ingested, intestinal bacteria reacted and alaic acid in the intestines increased. This increases GLP-1 production in the intestines, which then reaches adipose tissue and the liver, promoting fat burning, which is thought to be the mechanism by which Koya tofu-derived protein reduces weight gain and fatty liver. No adverse effects on the stomach, kidneys, or heart were observed due to high-quality tofu protein or resistant protein.
Eating koya tofu protein together may reduce weight gain and fatty liver disease.
Modern diets tend to be biased toward foods high in fat and sugar, and obesity and fatty liver disease are on the rise around the world. Eating protein from Koya tofu, a specialty of Shinshu, may reduce weight gain and fat loss.