Scientists from the University of Illinois found that soy protein, derived from non-animal sources such as tofu and natural yogurt, significantly slashes the amount of fat and triglycerides (a type of fat found in the bloodstream and tissue) in the liver.

High levels of both of these can trigger liver disease as they force the organ to store fat instead of metabolizing it, meaning the liver cannot do its job properly.

Hong Chen, the study’s lead author, explains, "When fat accumulates in an organ that's not supposed to store fat, like the liver, that organ's vital function can be dangerously compromised.”

The study came to its conclusion after testing on lean and obese lab rats, who were either given a diet of casein-based (milk) proteins or soy proteins for 17 weeks.

Although the soy proteins had no effect on the normal-sized rats, in their obese counterparts, the soy diet showed a 20% decrease in triglycerides and overall fat accumulation in the liver.

The study’s findings benefit obese people most significantly as soy proteins restore a crucial player in fat metabolism. "In many obese persons, there's a sort of metabolic traffic problem, and when more fat can make its way out of the liver, there is less pressure on that organ," adds Chen.

 From the April 24, 2012, Prepared Foods’ Daily News