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Replacing dietary carbohydrate with protein and fat decreases the concentrations of small LDL and the inflammatory response induced by atherogenic diets in the guinea pig

journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-17, 12:47 authored by Matthew SharmanMatthew Sharman, Fernandez, ML, Zern, TL, Torres-Gonzalez, M, Kraemer, WJ, Volek, JS
Guinea pigs resemble humans in cholesterol and lipoprotein metabolism; however, there is limited information on the vascular inflammatory response with induction of atherosclerosis in this animal model. The purpose of this study was to document a vascular inflammatory response associated with dietary-induced atherosclerosis in the guinea pig and determine the effect of replacing dietary carbohydrate with protein and fat on this response. Thirty male Hartley guinea pigs were randomly assigned to a high dietary cholesterol, high-carbohydrate (HC); a high-cholesterol, low-carbohydrate (LC) or a control (CON) diet for 12 weeks. Analysis of cytokine protein expression [interferon ã (IFN-ã), tumor necrosis factor á (TNF-á), interleukin (IL)-1â, IL-6 and GM-CSF) and m RNA expression (IFN-ã, TNF-á, IL-1â, MCP-1 and IL-8] were performed along with the measurement of cholesterol concentration in the aorta, plasma lipids and plasma low-density lipoprotein subfractions. There was a similar and significant accumulation of cholesterol in the thoracic aorta in the HC and LC groups compared to the CON group. Aortic cytokine protein expression (TNF-á, IFN-ã and IL-6) and m RNA expression (TNF-á and IFN-ã) were significantly elevated in both high-cholesterol fed groups (HC and LC) (P<.05) compared to the CON group. Compared to the HC group, animals fed the LC diet had reduced protein and m RNA TNF-á expression, as well as a reduced concentration of small LDL particles in the plasma. This study is the first to document a dietary cholesterol-induced vascular inflammatory response in guinea pigs that is partially regulated by the macronutrient content of the diet. Guinea pigs may be a useful animal model to evaluate the cellular and molecular components of atherosclerosis.

History

Publication title

Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry

Volume

2008 Nov

Issue

19(11)

Pagination

732-8

ISSN

0955-2863

Department/School

School of Health Sciences

Publisher

Elsevier Science Inc

Place of publication

360 Park Ave South, New York, USA, Ny, 10010-1710

Repository Status

  • Restricted

Socio-economic Objectives

Nutrition

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