Comparison of dietary casein or soy protein effects on plasma lipids and hormone concentrations in the gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus)

The effects of dietary animal protein (casein) or soy protein (soy isolate) on plasma lipids and hormones were investigated in the gerbil. Diets, fed to male gerbils (initial weight, 60 g) for 4 wk, contained either 18% casein or soy isolate as the protein source. The dietary fat sources were lard (16%) and safflower oil (1%). The cholesterol content of the diet was 0.1%. Plasma total cholesterol concentrations were lower in gerbils fed the soy protein diet (159 mg/dl) than in the gerbils fed the casein diet (190 mg/dl). Absolute HDL-cholesterol concentrations were unaffected by the protein source, but LDL-cholesterol concentrations were lower in the soy-fed gerbils. Thus, the ratio of LDL to HDL cholesterol was lower in the soy-fed gerbils (0.42) compared with the casein-fed gerbils (0.70). Plasma insulin levels were higher in the soy-fed gerbils as were plasma thyroxine and thyroid-stimulating hormone levels. The results indicate that the gerbils can be used to study dietary effects on cholesterol parameters. These data also suggest that changes in plasma thyroxine levels may in part account for the hypocholesterolemic effect of soy protein.     

Dietary protein effects on cholesterol and lipoprotein concentrations: a review

Different dietary proteins exert different effects on plasma cholesterol concentrations. Animal studies have shown that animal proteins, most notably casein, increase plasma total cholesterol concentrations compared with vegetable proteins, such as soy. Soy protein has been shown to be hypocholesterolemic in rats, swine, primates, and rabbits. Epidemiologic studies have disclosed that vegetarians have lower mean plasma cholesterol concentrations than populations consuming diets of mixed proteins, but it is unclear whether this effect results specifically from the animal or vegetable nature of the protein. In human clinical experiments, substituting soy protein for mixed protein reduces plasma total cholesterol concentration in hypercholesterolemic subjects, but it causes only a small, nonsignificant change in persons with normal plasma cholesterol concentrations. The mechanism responsible for the effects of different proteins on plasma cholesterol concentrations has not been established. One hypothesis suggests that animal proteins, which have a greater content of phosphorylated amino acids than vegetable proteins, interfere with bile acid reabsorption. Another hypothesis suggests that the amino acid content of the protein affects cholesterol absorption, tissue storage, synthesis, and excretion. The dietary protein may also alter cholesterol metabolism by affecting plasma hormone concentrations, either postprandially or over weeks to months. Among the hormones thought to be affected by dietary protein source are insulin, glucagon, and thyroid hormones. Gastrointestinal hormones, such as gastrointestinal inhibitory polypeptide, may also be affected by dietary protein.     

Dietary protein effects on cholesterol and lipoprotein concentrations: a review.

Different dietary proteins exert different effects on plasma cholesterol concentrations. Animal studies have shown that animal proteins, most notably casein, increase plasma total cholesterol concentrations compared with vegetable proteins, such as soy. Soy protein has been shown to be hypocholesterolemic in rats, swine, primates, and rabbits. Epidemiologic studies have disclosed that vegetarians have lower mean plasma cholesterol concentrations than populations consuming diets of mixed proteins, but it is unclear whether this effect results specifically from the animal or vegetable nature of the protein. In human clinical experiments, substituting soy protein for mixed protein reduces plasma total cholesterol concentration in hypercholesterolemic subjects, but it causes only a small, nonsignificant change in persons with normal plasma cholesterol concentrations. The mechanism responsible for the effects of different proteins on plasma cholesterol concentrations has not been established. One hypothesis suggests that animal proteins, which have a greater content of phosphorylated amino acids than vegetable proteins, interfere with bile acid reabsorption. Another hypothesis suggests that the amino acid content of the protein affects cholesterol absorption, tissue storage, synthesis, and excretion. The dietary protein may also alter cholesterol metabolism by affecting plasma hormone concentrations, either postprandially or over weeks to months. Among the hormones thought to be affected by dietary protein source are insulin, glucagon, and thyroid hormones. Gastrointestinal hormones, such as gastrointestinal inhibitory polypeptide, may also be affected by dietary protein.     

Effect of soy protein on endogenous hormones in postmenopausal women.

BACKGROUND: The long-term clinical effects of soy protein containing various concentrations of isoflavones on endogenous hormones are unknown. OBJECTIVE: We examined the effects of ingestion of soy protein containing various concentrations of isoflavones on hormone values in postmenopausal women. DESIGN: Seventy-three hypercholesterolemic, free-living, postmenopausal women participated in a 6-mo double-blind trial in which 40 g protein as part of a National Cholesterol Education Program Step I diet was provided as casein from nonfat dry milk (control), isolated soy protein (ISP) containing 56 mg isoflavones (ISP56), or ISP containing 90 mg isoflavones (ISP90). Endogenous hormone concentrations were measured at baseline and at 3 and 6 mo. RESULTS: The concentration of thyroxine and the free thyroxine index were higher in the ISP56 group, and the concentration of thyroid-stimulating hormone was higher in the ISP90 group than in the control group at 3 and 6 mo (P < 0.05). Triiodothyronine was significantly higher in the ISP90 group only at 6 mo. Thyroxine, free thyroxine index, and thyroid-stimulating hormone at 6 mo were inversely associated with measures of baseline estrogenicity. No significant differences were found for endogenous estrogens, cortisol, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, insulin, glucagon, or follicle-stimulating hormone after baseline hormone values were controlled for. CONCLUSIONS: This study does not provide evidence that long-term ingestion of soy protein alters steroid hormone values, but it suggests that soy protein may have small effects on thyroid hormone values that are unlikely to be clinically important. The thyroid effects are, however, consistent with previous findings in animals and highlight the need for future research investigating possible mechanisms of action.     

Effects of arginine and lysine addition to casein and soya-bean protein on serum lipids, apolipoproteins, insulin and glucagon in rats

1. The effect of variation in arginine: lysine on the relative cholesterolaemic effects of dietary soya-bean protein and casein was studied. Male rats received semi-purified diets containing soya-bean protein isolate or casein supplemented respectively with varying amounts of lysine or arginine for 40 d and blood samples were taken after a 5 h fast. 2. Neither the addition of arginine to casein nor lysine to soya-bean protein modified the intrinsic effect of these proteins on serum cholesterol. 3. Serum triglyceride levels tended to rise with increasing amounts of lysine supplementation. The opposite trend was obtained with arginine supplementation. 4. Casein caused an increase in the concentration of serum insulin, but not glucagon. The glucagon level was increased proportionately with increasing amounts of arginine, while the addition of lysine showed no effect. The effects of added amino acids on serum insulin were inconclusive. 5. There was a parallel increase in serum apo E and glucagon in response to arginine supplementation, while lysine supplementation increased serum apo E. 6. Thus, arginine: lysine was more effective in regulating serum triglyceride than serum cholesterol. Insulin was associated with different effects of these proteins on serum lipids.     

大豆蛋白对高脂饲料喂养大鼠固醇调节元件结合蛋白基因表达的影响

目的探讨大豆蛋白在正常饮食和高脂饮食状态下对大鼠脂代谢相关固醇调节元件结合蛋白(SREBP)基因表达水平的影响。方法 48只清洁级SD大鼠,按体重随机分为4组,分别喂饲含酪蛋白和大豆蛋白的正常饲料和高脂饲料28d后,脱颈椎处死动物,检测激素指标及基因表达水平。结果大豆蛋白组大鼠血清胰岛素水平和胰岛素/胰高血糖素比值显著低于酪蛋白组(P<0.05);大豆蛋白高脂组大鼠血清胰岛素水平显著低于酪蛋白高脂组(P<0.05);大豆蛋白组和大豆蛋白高脂组大鼠肝脏SREBP-1,2基因表达均分别显著低于酪蛋白组和酪蛋白高脂组(P<0.05);大豆蛋白组和大豆蛋白高脂组大鼠肝脏SREBP-1蛋白表达明显低于酪蛋白组和酪蛋白高脂组(P<0.05)。结论大豆蛋白可能通过影响胰岛素进而影响SREBP-1基因表达来调节血脂水平。     

Effects of sources of dietary fat and protein on tissue cholesterol

Dietary variables were soy oil, beef tallow, soy protein, and casein. Dietary combinations were soy oil-soy protein, soy-oil casein, beef tallow-soy protein, and beef tallow-casein, and 96 rats were allotted randomly to the four isocaloric diets. [Crystalline cholesterol was added to standardize each diet at 0.2%.] Two randomly selected rats from each dietary group were killed at 0, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 18, 22, 30, 36, 42, and 48 days on experiment to determine the effects of sources (plant versus animal) of dietary fat and protein on tissue cholesterol concentrations and on cholesterogenesis in liver and small intestine. Feeding soy oil, a polyunsaturated fat, resulted in lower blood cholesterol concentrations, higher liver cholesterol concentrations, and lower intestinal cholesterogenesis than did feeding beef tallow, a saturated fat. Feeding soy protein, a plant protein, resulted in lower blood and liver cholesterol concentrations and less intestinal cholesterogenesis than did feeding casein, an animal protein. Hepatic cholesterogenesis and intestinal tissue cholesterol levels were not affected significantly by diet. Eight rats killed at day 0 had, on the average, lesser plasma cholesterol concentrations and greater rates of intestinal cholesterogenesis than rats fed experimental diets. Our results demonstrate that the hypocholesterolemic action of soy oil and soy protein fed to rats may be related to decreased intestinal cholesterogenesis. In addition, soy oil, a polyunsaturated fat caused a redistribution of cholesterol from plasma to liver.     

Effect of proteins from beef, pork, and turkey meat on plasma and liver lipids of rats compared with casein and soy protein

OBJECTIVE: We assessed the effect of dietary proteins isolated from beef, pork, and turkey meat on concentrations of cholesterol and triacylglycerols in plasma, lipoproteins, and liver and the composition of the microsomal membrane (fatty acids, phosphatidylcholine/phosphatidylethanolamine ratio) compared with that of casein and soy protein in rats. METHODS: Five groups of 12 rats each were fed semisynthetic diets for 20 d that contained 200 g/kg of proteins isolated from beef, pork, or turkey meat or, as controls, casein or soy protein. RESULTS: Rats fed beef, pork, or turkey proteins did not differ in cholesterol concentrations of plasma, lipoproteins, and liver and in composition of microsomal membrane from rats fed the casein diet. All groups fed a protein from an animal source had higher very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) and liver cholesterol concentrations than did rats fed soy protein. However, rats fed pork protein had lower concentrations of triacylglycerols in liver, plasma, and VLDL and lower mRNA concentrations of sterol regulatory element binding protein-1 and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase than did rats fed casein. However, concentrations of plasma and VLDL triacylglycerols in rats fed pork protein were not as low as those observed in rats fed soy protein. CONCLUSION: Proteins isolated from beef, pork, or turkey meat do not differ from casein in their effects on cholesterol metabolism. Pork protein decreases plasma triacylglycerol concentrations compared with casein but not compared with soy protein. The triacylglycerol-lowering effect of pork protein compared with casein is suggested to be caused by decreased hepatic fatty acid synthesis.     

Lipoprotein(a) and dietary proteins: casein lowers lipoprotein(a) concentrations as compared with soy protein

BACKGROUND: Substitution of soy protein for casein in the diet decreases LDL cholesterol and increases HDL cholesterol. How the 2 proteins affect lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)], an independent risk factor for coronary artery disease, is unknown. OBJECTIVE: We compared the effects of dietary soy protein and casein on plasma Lp(a) concentrations. DESIGN: Nine normolipidemic men were studied initially while consuming their habitual, self-selected diets, and then, in a crossover design, while consuming 2 liquid-formula diets containing either casein or soy protein. The dietary periods lasted 45 d (n = 7) or 33 d (n = 2). Fasting total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, triacylglycerol, and Lp(a) concentrations were measured throughout. RESULTS: After 30 d of each diet, the mean concentration of Lp(a) was not significantly different after the soy-protein and self-selected diets. However, Lp(a) decreased by an average of 50% (P < 0.001) after the casein diet as compared with concentrations after both the soy-protein and self-selected diets. Two weeks after subjects switched from the self-selected to the soy-protein diet, Lp(a) increased by 20% (P = 0.065), but subsequently decreased to baseline. In contrast, the switch to the casein diet did not cause an increase in Lp(a), but instead a continuing decrease in mean concentrations to 65% below baseline (P < 0.0002). Total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and HDL cholesterol were significantly lower > or =30 d after both the casein and soy-protein diets than after the self-selected diet (P < 0.001). HDL cholesterol was 11% higher after the soy-protein diet than after the casein diet (P < 0.002), but LDL cholesterol, total cholesterol, and triacylglycerol were not significantly different after the casein and soy-protein diets. CONCLUSION: These findings indicate that soy protein may have an Lp(a)-raising effect, potentially detrimental to its use in antiatherogenic diets.     

Feeding frequency for lactating cows: diurnal patterns of hormones and metabolites in peripheral blood in relation to milk-fat concentration

1. The present paper reports the effects of dietary modifications on the diurnal pattern of concentrations of certain metabolites and hormones in the peripheral blood of lactating dairy cows. The cows were given fixed rations of hay and high-cereal concentrates in the proportions of 30:70 or 10:90 (w/w). The concentrates were given in either two or six equal meals daily; the hay was given twice daily. 2. Previous reports of the same experiment had shown that milk-fat yield and concentration were reduced by increasing the proportion of concentrates in the diet and increased by more frequent feeding of the concentrates. These changes could be explained in part by changes in rumen volatile fatty acid (VFA) proportions and mean daily concentrations of VFA, particularly propionic acid, and insulin in the peripheral blood, but these factors failed to explain all the increase in milk-fat concentration caused by more frequent feeding. 3. Analysis of blood samples taken at hourly intervals for 24 h at two stages of lactation showed that, in the cows fed six times daily, the concentrations of metabolites and hormones remained relatively constant over the day. In the cows fed twice daily, the concentrations of VFA, 3-hydroxybutyric acid and insulin all increased after both meals whereas the concentrations of glucose and growth hormone tended to fall. The concentration of non-esterified fatty acids tended to increase overnight and fall rapidly after the morning feed. The concentrations of glucagon, thyroxine and prolactin showed no clear pattern in relation to meals. The postprandial responses of propionate, insulin and growth hormone were greater with the higher concentrate diet. 4. The maximum concentration and the diurnal range of concentrations were reduced by more frequent feeding of both diets in the case of propionic acid and of the higher concentrate diet in the case of insulin, but the effects on insulin concentrations of more frequent feeding of the lower concentrate diet were smaller and not significant. The maximum concentration and the diurnal range of concentrations of growth hormone were unaffected by meal frequency. 5. It is concluded that the severity of milk-fat depression in cows fed twice daily is increased by the rapid rise in propionic acid concentration in the peripheral blood after a meal, which in turn increases insulin secretion and may be accompanied by a suppression of growth hormone release. This causes lipogenesis to be diverted towards adipose tissue at the expense of the mammary gland.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Treatment of dietary casein with formaldehyde reduces its hypercholesterolemic effect in rabbits

Rabbits were fed cholesterol-free, semipurified diets containing 42% (wt/wt) casein or 21% casein plus one of the following nitrogen sources: soy isolate, amino acid mixture simulating casein, amino acid mixture simulating soy isolate, formaldehyde-treated casein or formaldehyde-treated soy isolate. Two additional groups of rabbits were fed the 42% casein diet and the diet containing casein plus soy isolate to which 0.4% (wt/wt) pure formaldehyde was added, this amount being identical to the amount of formaldehyde present in the diets with formaldehyde-treated proteins. Growth was somewhat reduced on the three diets containing 42% casein. The diet containing 42% casein to which no formaldehyde had been added induced severe hypercholesterolemia, the level of serum cholesterol after 8 weeks being about 10 mmol/L. The hypercholesterolemia was markedly reduced by the replacement of half of the casein by soy isolate, formaldehyde-treated soy isolate or formaldehyde-treated casein. No significant reduction of the concentration of serum cholesterol was seen when half of the 42% casein was replaced by an amino acid mixture imitating either casein or soy isolate. Formaldehyde per se did not significantly influence the level of serum cholesterol. We conclude that the differential tertiary structure of intact casein and soy isolate is an important factor in determining the cholesterolemic responses in rabbits to these proteins.     

Soy protein affects serum insulin and hepatic SREBP-1 mRNA and reduces fatty liver in rats

The consumption of soy protein was shown to reduce blood lipids in humans and other animal species. Furthermore, it was shown that the ingestion of soy protein maintains normal insulinemia. Thus, the purpose of the present study was to determine whether soy protein affects the synthesis of lipids in the liver through sterol-regulatory element binding protein-1 (SREBP-1) due to modulation of insulin levels. We first conducted a short-term study in which rats were fed a diet containing 18 g/100 g soy protein or casein for 10 d. Rats fed soy protein had significantly lower serum insulin concentrations than rats fed casein, and this response was accompanied by an elevation in hepatic SREBP-1 mRNA that was 53% lower than that in rats fed casein at d 10. The increase in SREBP-1 mRNA occurred 30 min after consumption of the casein mean, and increased steadily for the next 2 h. We then conducted a second study to assess the long-term effect of soy protein consumption for 150 d on hepatic SREBP-1 expression. Long-term consumption of soy protein maintained normal insulin concentrations compared with rats fed casein, which were hyperinsulinemic. Thus, rats fed the soy protein diet had significantly lower expression of SREBP-1 mRNA than rats fed the casein diet. Soy protein intake also reduced the expression of fatty acid synthase (FAS) and malic enzyme, leading to low hepatic lipid depots of triglycerides and cholesterol, whereas rats fed the casein diet developed fatty liver. These data suggest that soy protein regulates SREBP-1 expression by modulating serum insulin concentration, thus preventing the development of fatty liver.     

Use of arginine to reduce the severity of retinoid-induced hypertriglyceridemia

Previous research with an animal model of retinoid-induced hypertriglyceridemia, rats fed a 13-cis retinoic acid-containing diet in which casein was the dietary protein, has demonstrated that replacement of dietary casein with soy protein isolate can reduce the severity of this condition. A depressant action of soy protein vs. that of casein on serum triglyceride concentration has also been demonstrated in rats fed purified diets without supplemental retinoid. Because this action of soy protein appears to be due to its having a higher arginine-to-lysine ratio than casein, a study was done to determine how feeding a casein-containing diet supplemented with sufficient arginine, to give a dietary arginine-to-lysine ratio equivalent to that of soy protein, would affect the development of retinoid-induced hypertriglyceridemia. Groups of five-week-old male Fischer 344 rats (n = 7/group) were fed a control diet containing casein or one of three 13-cis retinoic acid-containing diets in which dietary nitrogen was provided as casein, casein + arginine, or soy protein. Incorporation of dietary 13-cis retinoic acid resulted in hypertriglyceridemia, with serum triglyceride concentrations of 2.00 and 7.23 mmol/l, or 177 and 640 mg/dl, for groups fed the control and casein + 13-cis retinoic acid diets, respectively. For animals fed the 13-cis retinoic acid-containing diets, serum triglyceride levels for the casein + arginine and soy protein diet groups (4.75 and 2.92 mmol/l, or 421 and 258 mg/dl, respectively) were significantly lower than for the casein group (p < 0.05); however, the value was significantly lower for the group fed the soy protein diet than for the group fed the casein + arginine diet. Serum and dietary arginine-to-lysine ratios were highly correlated (r = 0.93, p < 0.0001). Thus, supplementing dietary casein with arginine reduced the severity of retinoid-induced hypertriglyceridemia, but not as effectively as replacing casein with soy protein.     

Dietary animal proteins and cholesterol metabolism in rats

The effects on cholesterol metabolism in rats of diets containing various animal proteins or soy protein were studied. The animal proteins tested were casein, whey protein, fish protein, hemoglobin, plasma proteins, ovalbumin, egg-yolk protein, beef protein and chicken-meat protein. The semi-purified diets were isonitrogenous and balanced for residual fat and cholesterol in the protein preparations. The nature of the dietary protein had no effect on serum cholesterol concentration. Group mean liver cholesterol concentration was increased and fecal excretion of bile acids was decreased by all animal proteins when compared with soy protein. This study suggests that carefully balancing diets for components other than protein in the protein preparations prevents protein effects on serum cholesterol in rats but not on liver cholesterol and bile acid excretion.     

Comparison of actions of soy protein and casein on metabolism of plasma lipoproteins and cholesterol in humans

Several reports claim that vegetable proteins cause a lowering of plasma cholesterol when substituted for animal proteins. The present study was carried out to determine whether soy proteins alter plasma lipoproteins or cholesterol balance when compared to casein protein in humans investigated on a metabolic ward. Fourteen men were studied in two periods, each of 1 month's duration. In period I the diet contained 30% of calories as fat (in the form of lard), 55% as carbohydrate and 15% as casein protein. Period II was identical except that soy protein was used instead of casein. Ten patients had normal levels of plasma triglycerides with varying concentrations of plasma cholesterol. The substitution of soy protein for casein protein produced no consistent change in plasma concentrations of cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein, or high-density lipoprotein. Estimated synthetic rates of cholesterol and bile acids also were unchanged. In contrast, soy protein caused a significant lowering of plasma triglycerides in three of four patients with hypertriglyceridemia. Thus, the only significant alteration induced by soy proteins in this study was a reduction of plasma triglycerides when levels were elevated; soy proteins had no discernable effects on the metabolism of cholesterol.     

Correlation between the cholesterolemic responses produced by dietary cholesterol and casein in rabbits

Rabbits were fed three semipurified diets, namely a cholesterol-free soy protein diet, a cholesterol-free casein diet or a diet containing soy protein plus cholesterol (2 g/kg). One group (Chol-Cas) of 24 rabbits was fed successively the diet containing soy protein plus cholesterol (25 days), the soy protein diet (36 days) and the casein diet (20 days). Another group (Cas-Chol) consisting of 25 animals received consecutively the diet containing casein, soy protein and soy protein supplemented with cholesterol. Hypercholesterolemia was induced by the diets containing cholesterol or casein, whereas regression was seen on the soy protein diet. Within the Chol-Cas or Cas-Chol group the cholesterolemic response to casein and that to cholesterol was significantly correlated, the correlation coefficient being as high as 0.66. This correlation was still observed when calculated for animals either hypo- or hyperresponsive to dietary casein or cholesterol. When all animals were pooled, the correlation coefficient for the cholesterolemic response to casein and to cholesterol was only 0.33. The mean response to dietary cholesterol and to casein was significantly higher in the last dietary period than in the first period.     

Relationship between amino acid composition of diet and plasma cholesterol level in growing rats fed a high cholesterol diet

The effects of dietary sulfur-containing amino acids and glycine on plasma cholesterol level were studied in rats fed amino acid mixture diets containing cholesterol. The relationship between the amino acid composition of dietary proteins and plasma cholesterol levels was also investigated in rats fed diets containing various kinds of protein such as casein, egg albumin, pork protein, fish protein, corn gluten, wheat gluten and soy protein. Feeding the amino acid mixture corresponding to casein led to an approximately two-fold level of plasma total cholesterol as compared with feeding the amino acid mixture corresponding to wheat gluten. It was possible to reduce the plasma cholesterol of rats fed the amino acid mixture of the casein type by increasing the proportion of cystine in the total sulfur amino acids. Inversely, the deprivation of cystine resulted in an enhancement of the plasma cholesterol of rats fed the gluten type amino acid mixture. Glycine had a tendency to resist increases in the plasma cholesterol level. A significant negative correlation was noted between plasma cholesterol levels and the content of cystine in intact dietary proteins. The results suggest that the differential effect of dietary proteins on plasma cholesterol level is mainly associated with sulfur-containing amino acids included in the protein, regardless of whether it is of animal or plant origin.     

Changes in serum lipoprotein lipids and their fatty acid compositions and lipid peroxidation in growing rats fed soybean protein versus casein with or without cholesterol

OBJECTIVE: We compared the effects of diets based on soybean protein and casein supplemented or not supplemented with 0.1% cholesterol on plasma lipoprotein lipid amounts and their fatty acid compositions, lecithin:cholesterol acyl-transferase activity, and lipid peroxidation. METHODS: The composition and concentration of lipid and apolipoprotein in different lipoprotein classes, plasma LCAT activity, and lipid peroxidation were determined in rats fed 20% highly purified soybean protein or casein with or without 0.1% cholesterol for 2 mo. RESULTS: Soybean protein and casein diets with or without cholesterol had similar plasma total cholesterol concentrations. Soybean protein consumption diminished very low-density lipoprotein particle number, as measured by diminished contents of very low-density lipoprotein triacylglycerol, phospholipid, and apolipoprotein-B100. Lecithin:cholesterol acyl-transferase activity was not significantly modified by either protein. The soybean protein diet decreased the linoleate desaturation index (20:4[omega-6]/18:2[omega-6]) in liver and high-density lipoprotein fraction 2-3-phospholipids but enhanced red blood cell resistance against free radical attack. Addition of cholesterol to both protein diets decreased concentrations of high-density lipoprotein fraction 2-3 cholesterol. Lecithin:cholesterol acyl-transferase activity tended to be greater after cholesterol feeding, likely due to the enhanced high-density lipoprotein fraction 2-3 apolipoprotein-AI, a cofactor activator for lecithin:cholesterol acyl-transferase. Regardless of dietary protein source, cholesterol supplementation decreased the linoleate desaturation index in liver and plasma lipoprotein lipids and red blood cell resistance to free radical attack. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that the dietary protein origin affects lipid peroxidation and polyunsaturated fatty acid biosynthesis and distribution among liver and different lipoprotein lipid classes, but plays only a minor role in the regulation of plasma and lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations. Providing dietary cholesterol (0.1%) with casein or soybean protein attenuates the effects of these proteins, with the exception of plasma cholesterol.     

High isoflavone soy diet increases insulin secretion without decreasing insulin sensitivity in premenopausal nonhuman primates

Consuming soy and soy isoflavones has been shown to cause modest improvements in plasma lipids, lipoproteins, and indices of insulin sensitivity in postmenopausal women. The effect of soy on such end points is attributed often to estrogen receptor agonism by isoflavones. Recent in vitro studies suggest that isoflavones, in combination with high estrogen concentrations (within the range seen circulating in premenopausal women), function as estrogen receptor antagonists that potentially may counteract the beneficial effects seen with soy consumption. We studied insulin sensitivity in 15 premenopausal nonhuman primates consuming either a high isoflavone soy diet or a soy-free casein/lactalbumin diet for 4 months. Insulin sensitivity was measured by intravenous glucose tolerance testing, hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamps, and insulin-stimulated insulin receptor and protein kinase B phosphorylation levels in muscle. In addition, plasma lipids, adiponectin, thyroid hormone, and body weights are reported. We show that high isoflavones do not adversely affect insulin sensitivity but do significantly alter insulin secretion to glucose stimulation. Small but significant increases in thyroxine and increased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol were observed as has been reported commonly with soy intake. These study results demonstrate that consumption of soy containing high isoflavone levels is not associated with changes in insulin sensitivity in the high estrogen milieu of the premenopausal female.     

Simvastatin further enhances the hypocholesterolemic effect of soy protein in rabbits.

The effects of three dietary proteins (casein, cod, soy) and low dose simvastatin, an inhibitor of hydroxymethyl-glutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase, on serum lipids were investigated.

New Zealand rabbits were fed purified diet (20% protein, 11% fat and 0.06% cholesterol) for 28 days. Animals received either 1.4 mg simvastatin or placebo orally during the last 14 days. A randomized 3 × 2 factorial design was used for the administration of diet and drug treatments.

Mean food intake and body weight of the animals in all groups were similar. In placebo groups, soy protein decreased (p = 0.06) total cholesterolemia with significantly (p = 0.009) lower high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, and significantly (p = 0.004) higher very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) triglycerides (TG), compared to animal proteins. Addition of low dose simvastatin to soy protein induced a further decrease of serum total cholesterol, decreased VLDL and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, and LDL (apolipoprotein B), as well as improved VLDL-TG and HDL cholesterol levels. No similar reduction was seen when simvastatin was combined with casein or cod protein.

These results show that low dose simvastatin may enhance the hypocholesterolemic effect of soy protein compared to animal proteins in the rabbit.