Experimental atherosclerosis in rabbits fed cholesterol-free diets. Part 9. Beef protein and textured vegetable protein.

Rabbits were fed a semipurified diet containing 40% sucrose, 25% protein, 15% fiber and 14% tallow. The proteins fed were beef (B), textured vegetable protein (TVP) and casein (C). One diet contained beef-TVP (1 : 1) and in another a soy carbohydrate fraction, spent flakes, was added to the diet; it provided 2.2% protein and 10.5% fiber. TVP provided 6.4% soluble carbohydrate and 10.5% fiber. The diets were fed from 8 months. Diets containing beef protein or casein gave significantly higher serum cholesterol levels and atherosclerosis and significantly lower serum HDL-cholesterol than did the other 3 diets. The beef-TVP (1 : 1) diet gave low serum cholesterol (67% below beef) levels and atherosclerosis (47% below beef). This effect is probably due to the protein. The diet containing spent flakes gave low serum cholesterol levels (44% below beef) and atherosclerosis (45% below beef). This effect is attributed to the different fiber. The lowest serum cholesterol levels and least severe atherosclerosis were observed in the rabbits fed TVP.