Functional food and contemporary nutrition-health paradigm: tempeh and its potential beneficial effects in disease prevention and treatment
2000; Elsevier BV; Volume: 16; Issue: 7-8 Linguagem: Inglês
10.1016/s0899-9007(00)00364-6
ISSN1873-1244
AutoresDarwin Karyadi, Widjaja Lukito,
Tópico(s)Phytoestrogen effects and research
ResumoThe roles of tempeh, an Indonesian indigenous and traditional fermented soy food, in disease prevention and treatment have gained worldwide recognition. Many scientific meetings have been held, and published manuscripts on tempeh have added to the scientific vocabularies of functional foods.1–3 Several studies undertaken in Indonesia demonstrated that tempeh had antidiarrheal4 and hypolipidemic5 effects. It is yet to be ascertained whether the antidiarrheal property of tempeh is through its antimicrobial activity6 or through gut immunity. It also remains to be seen whether tempeh has direct antiatherogenic effects7 without its hypolipidemic activity. Isoflavonoid phytoestrogens in soy, such as daidzein and genistein, are known to be responsible for the biological activities of tempeh. High soy food consumption was associated with lower breast cancer risk in Singaporean women.8,9 Soy food consumption improved vaginal cytology and bone mineral content in postmenopausal women.10, 11 Indeed, isoflavone content in tempeh is at least as high as that in soybean.12 Therefore, it is fair to speculate that tempeh has anticarcinogenic and antiosteoporotic activities, or further comprehensive studies need to be pursued. Although the new biological properties of non-nutrients such as phytoestrogen in tempeh have been revealed extensively, the conventional concept is still valid. During the recent socioeconomic crisis in Indonesia, consumption of animal protein, such as red meat and chicken, declined tremendously, especially among the poorer elements of society.13 Nevertheless, the consumption of soy foods such as tofu and tempeh has been successfully retained by at-risk communities.14 Again, a new conundrum has emerged, that tempeh is a protein-rich plant food for survival. REFERENCES
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