Casein-induced hypercholesterolemia in rabbits: distribution of cholesterol, triglycerides and phospholipids between serum and liver.

Replacement of soy protein by casein in the cholesterol-free, semipurified diet of rabbits caused hypercholesterolemia within 7 days. After 36 days, the serum of casein-fed rabbits displayed elevated levels of free and esterified cholesterol and phospholipids, but not of triglycerides. Most of the excess of serum cholesterol in the casein group was localized in the LDL fraction, but there were marked variations in the density profile of the serum lipoproteins between individual rabbits. Dietary casein induced an increased content in liver of free and esterified cholesterol, but not of phospholipids and triglycerides. The molar ratio of free to esterified cholesterol in the liver was decreased by casein. In contrast, feeding casein resulted in an increase of this ratio in the serum.