[Experimental 3-month study of safety of textured soybeans Becsei]

The authors conducted a three-month safety test of a textured soy (TS) product manufactured by the Agricultural Plant, Boly. Young male and female rats received semisynthetic diets containing 8, 18 and 38% of TS protein or casein supplemented with methionine, as the only source of protein. The effect of the diet containing 18% of TS protein on the growth, on certain parameters of protein and fat metabolism and on the zinc and copper status corresponded to that produced by 18% of casein supplemented with methionine. When the content of TS protein was lower or higher than the optimal (18%), the development of rats fell behind the control ones receiving adequate amount of casein. High doses of TS protein produced a favourable effect on lipid metabolism in the liver, but its effect on zinc metabolism was unfavourable. No signs of toxic action of the TS product were recorded during the three-month safety test of TS.