Premium
Low carbohydrate diets reduce aortic lipid accumulation, oxidized LDL and atherosclerosis in guinea pigs
Author(s) -
Leite Jose O,
deOgburn Ryan,
Ratliff Joseph,
Su Randy,
Volek Jeff S,
McGrane Mary M,
Dardik Alan,
Fernandez Maria Luz
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.23.1_supplement.350.3
Subject(s) - chemistry , cholesterol , carbohydrate , aorta , medicine , endocrinology , lipoprotein , food science , biochemistry , biology
While low carbohydrate (LC) diets are effective in inducing weight loss and favorably affecting plasma lipids, little is known about the effects of LC on atherosclerosis. Twenty male guinea pigs were fed either a LC diet or a low fat (LF) diet in combination with high cholesterol (0.25g/100g) for 12 wk to evaluate the effects of changes in macronutrient composition on lipid accumulation and oxidized LDL in a model of atherosclerosis. The energy distribution of the diets was 10:65:25 for carbohydrate:fat:protein for the LC and 55:20:25 for the LF diet. LDL cholesterol (LDL‐C) was lower in the LC compared to the LF group (71.9 ± 11.0 vs 81.7 ± 8.5 mg/dL, p < 0.05). Cholesterol concentration in aortas was also lower in the LC (4.98 ± 1.31 mg/g) compared to the LF group (6.68 ± 2.05 mg/g), p< 0.05). Histological analyses using the Schultz method confirmed cholesterol accumulation. Plasma oxidized LDL (oxLDL) did not differ between groups, however, aorta oxLDL was 77% lower in the LC (1.56 ± 0.56 ug/g) compared to the LF (4.63 ± 3.26 ug/g) group (P < 0.01). LDL‐C was correlated with cholesterol in aorta in both groups (LC, r= 0.657, p= < 0.05 and LF, r=0.66, p< 0.05) suggesting a major role of this lipoprotein in aortic lipid accumulation. In addition, there was no correlation between oxLDL and cholesterol concentration in the aorta. These results suggest that LC not only decreases lipid accumulation but also prevents the oxidation of LDL in the aorta independent of cholesterol concentration.