Soy lysolecithin counters high-salt diet-induced hypertension and cognitive impairment

High-salt (HS) intake is a major global health concern, closely linked to hypertension and growing evidence of cognitive and emotional decline. Although salt is a routine part of daily diets, long-term overconsumption can negatively affect both the cardiovascular system and the central nervous system, underscoring the need for practical dietary strategies to mitigate these adverse health effects.

Prostaglandins (PGs) are lipid compounds derived from arachidonic acid (AA) that act as potent local hormones. They maintain cardiovascular homeostasis through a delicate balance of vasodilation and vasoconstriction. In the brain, depending on the receptor involved, PGs can promote either neuroprotective or neurotoxic signaling, thereby influencing emotional and cognitive function.

LPC70, a soy lysolecithin in which lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) comprises more than 70% of phospholipids, has previously been shown to attenuate high-salt diet (HSD)-induced hypertension and cognitive impairment. However, the biological mechanisms, specifically the role of LPC70 in regulating PG signaling, remain unclear.

To address this gap, a team of researchers led by Professor Akihiro Mouri and Dr. Hisayoshi Kubota, along with Dr. Kazuhiro Kagotani, studied how LPC70 regulates PG signaling and how this attenuates hypertension and behavioral impairments in a mouse model.

Kubota, the study’s first author, made major contributions to the project’s execution, including evaluating blood pressure, behavioral phenotypes and PG-related molecular changes. His work helped reveal the organ-specific effects of LPC70 on HSD-induced cardiovascular and cognitive abnormalities.

Mouri and Kubota are affiliated with the Department of Regulatory Science for Evaluation and Development of Pharmaceuticals & Devices, Fujita Health University Graduate School of Medical Science, and the International Center for Brain Science (ICBS), Fujita Health University, Japan. Kagotani is affiliated with Tsuji Oil Mills Co., Ltd., Japan, and Tsuji Health and Beauty Science Laboratory, Mie University, Japan.

The results were published in Neurochemistry International.

“We wanted to understand the role of LPC70 in coordinating changes in PG signaling across organ systems,” Mouri said. “Our study originated from a collaborative research project with Tsuji Oil Mills Co., Ltd., a company that develops naturally derived food ingredients,” he added.

As anticipated, mice fed the HSD developed elevated blood pressure. They also showed reduced social interaction and impaired object-recognition memory, despite no major changes in locomotor activity or anxiety-like behavior. This suggests that HSD selectively affected higher-order behavioral and cognitive functions. LPC70 supplementation attenuated the increased blood pressure and improved both social behavior and object-recognition memory in HSD mice.

In the kidney, HSD increased the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and the PGE₂ receptor EP3, both of which are involved in PG signaling and may contribute to HSD-induced hypertension. LPC70 reduced these HSD-associated changes, suggesting that it can help normalize maladaptive PG signaling in the kidney.

In the prefrontal cortex, a region of the brain involved in cognition and social behavior, HSD reduced expression of the PGD₂ receptor DP1, which mediates neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory signaling. LPC70 restored DP1 expression without affecting DP2, a receptor associated with neurotoxic signaling. This receptor-specific response suggests that LPC70 may help shift PGD₂ signaling toward a more neuroprotective profile, leading to attenuation of behavioral and cognitive impairments.

Another key finding involved changes in circulating AA levels, the fatty acid precursor for PG production. Despite reduced circulating AA levels in HSD mice, LPC70 increased AA-derived PGs, including PGE₂ and PGD₂. This suggests that LPC70 enhances AA utilization, thereby promoting AA-derived PG production under HSD conditions.

Together, these findings indicate that LPC70 promotes organ-specific, receptor-dependent PG signaling, suppressing maladaptive pathways in the kidney while restoring neuroprotective signaling in the brain.

LPC70 shows promise as a functional food ingredient for mitigating the negative health effects of HS intake. It may support cardiovascular and cognitive health, especially in populations with high dietary salt intake.

“Our study elucidates LPC70’s role in PG signaling, laying the groundwork for future clinical research and dietary interventions aimed at reducing hypertension-related cognitive decline and promoting healthy aging globally,” Mouri concluded.

Who’s behind this story?

Swati Mestri

Swati Mestri holds a bachelor’s degree in Electronics Engineering and has worked as a content editor since 2019. She has experience editing research documents across technology, health care, and materials science, and has a particular interest in technology and space.

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Alexander Pol

PhD nano-engineering from Delft University. Published researcher and journal reviewer. Brings scientific insight to content standards.

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