Proteins found in common and tartary buckwheat may help to reduce cholesterol levels, researchers have said.
A team of Japanese scientists found that rats fed on a high cholesterol diet along with protein from common buckwheat and tartary buckwheat had reduced serum cholesterol levels.
Common buckwheat supplements led to a 32 per cent reduction in serum cholesterol levels, while supplementing their diet with tartary buckwheat led to a 25 per cent fall in cholesterol.
In addition, a separate experiment found that buckwheat proteins can help to reduce the formation of gallstones, according to Food Production Daily.
The researchers hope that the findings, which are published in the Journal of Food Science, could lead to an alternative dietary supplement for the reduction of cholesterol, which is closely linked with conditions such as cardiovascular disease.
The authors wrote that the results also suggest buckwheat supplements as a functional food ingredient.
Proteins found in common and tartary buckwheat may help to reduce cholesterol levels, researchers have said.
