Serum alpha-lipoprotein responses to variations in dietary cholesterol, protein and carbohydrate in different non-human primate species

Abstract

Serum alpha-lipoprotein responses to variations in dietary cholesterol, protein, and carbohydrate were studied in different nonhuman primate species. Chimpanzee, rhesus, green, patas, squirrel and spider monkeys all showed significant interspecies differences in serum total cholesterol responses to 1.84 mg/kcal exogenous cholesterol. Dietary cholesterol significantly increased the alpha-lipoprotein cholesterol in all species except rhesus and chimpanzee. Among these species, there was no relationship between the basal serum lipoprotein profile and subsequent lipoprotein responses to dietary cholesterol. Although the level of dietary protein at 6%, 12%, and 37% of calories had no appreciable main effect on serum total cholesterol in spider monkeys, very low protein diet (6% of calories) produced a significant elevation in alpha-lipoprotein cholesterol. Serum alpha-lipoprotein responses to exogenous cholesterol (1.84 mg/kcal) was highest for the very low protein diet and lowest for low protein diet (12% of calories). Diets with high sucrose (76.5% of calories) and low saturated fat (12.5% of calories) containing no added cholesterol were tested in squirrel and spider monkeys and produced a consistent serum total cholesterol response; the alpha-lipoprotein response was significantly higher in squirrel monkeys than in spider monkeys. The above findings have implications in experimentally induced and comparative atherogenesis.