Effects of High Protein Intakes on Cholesterolemia and Atherogenesis in Growing and Mature Chickens Fed High-Fat, High-Cholesterol Diets

Atherogenesis can be modified by the amount of protein in the diet, both in young, growing cockerels and in mature roosters and hens on high-cholesterol, high-fat diets. Protein supplementation suppresses atherosclerosis while low-protein enhances it. Any nutritionally good protein--animal or vegetable--was found to have this effect. The hypercholesterolemia and atherosclerosis-promoting effect of butter and egg yolk could be prevented by the simultaneous feeding of large amounts of casein or egg albumen respectively. Unlike ordinary hens, oviduct-ligated hens on high-fat, high-cholesterol diets failed to exhibit intensified hypercholesterolemia and atheroselerosis on the low-protein ration.