Dietary cottonseed protein and cholesterol metabolism.

Low-gossypol, glandless cottonseed protein may become a major product for human consumption. In this presentation, the influence of cottonseed protein on several aspects of cholesterol metabolism will be described. Studies with rabbits and rats have shown that dietary cottonseed protein very effectively lowers the concentration of plasma cholesterol when compared to the animal protein casein. No such effect has been found in hamsters, but cottonseed protein may slightly elevate the percentage of serum total cholesterol carried by the high density lipoproteins. There is suggestive evidence that in humans the replacement of animal proteins in the diet by cottonseed protein causes a small decrease in serum cholesterol levels, but more studies are required to substantiate this. In hamsters dietary cottonseed protein effectively suppresses the formation of gallstones when compared to casein. On diets containing cottonseed protein the concentrations of both cholesterol and phospholipids in bile fluid are significantly decreased. We tentatively suggest that the consumption of cottonseed protein will have a favorable effect on cholesterol metabolism.