Low carbohydrate, high protein diet promotes atherosclerosis in apolipoprotein E/low-density lipoprotein receptor double knockout mice (apoE/LDLR(-/-)).

Although in apoE/LDLR(-/-) mice atherosclerotic plaques develop spontaneously, various atherogenic diets (e.g. Western diet) are frequently used to accelerate the disease in this model. The objective of this study was to compare the effects on atherosclerosis of Western diet and other types of high-fat, high cholesterol, hypertriglyceridemic diets with the effects of the low carbohydrate, high protein (LCHP) diet. 16-18 week old mice with pre-established atherosclerosis were assigned to experimental groups and fed for the next 10 weeks with control diet, margarine diet (margarine 7%), hypertrigliceridemic diet (fructose 62%), high-fat diet (Western diet), high cholesterol diet (egg yolk diet) or with LCHP diet. No differences in body weight were observed among experimental groups. Plasma cholesterol concentration was significantly increased in egg yolk diet- and LCHP diet-fed apoE/LDLR(-/-) mice as compared to other types of diets. Plasma concentration of triacylglycerols was significantly elevated in egg yolk diet- and LCHP diet-fed apoE/LDLR(-/-) mice. The area of atherosclerotic plaques in the aortic root was substantially increased in LCHP diet-fed mice as compared to other types of diets. Furthermore, in brachiocephalic arteries of LCHP diet-fed mice there was evidence of plaque rupture. In conclusion, the LCHP diet promoted atherosclerosis in apoE/LDLR(-/-) mice more intensively than classical Western diet and favored the development of unstable lesions.