Influence of cholesterol feeding and dietary restriction on cholesterol absorption in rabbits

Dietary restriction amplifies the metabolic disturbances of very-low-density lipoproteins in cholesterol-fed rabbits

The effect of dietary restriction (half of the control ration) on VLDL turnover was investigated in cholesterol-fed rabbits. Rabbits on standard, cholesterol and restricted cholesterol diets were injected with homologous 125I-labelled VLDL. Accompanying the amplification of hypercholesterolemia, additional disturbances of VLDL turnover were observed when cholesterol feeding was associated with dietary restriction. Cholesterol-fed rabbits with normal caloric ration exhibited delayed clearance of 125I-labelled apolipoprotein B component of VLDL compared to control rabbits. This was markedly accentuated in underfed rabbits, indicating further down-regulation of apolipoprotein B,E receptors in these animals. Furthermore, a reduced proportion of radiolabelled apolipoprotein B was converted from VLDL to intermediate-density lipoprotein (IDL) and LDL in both groups receiving cholesterol-rich diets. Thus, the combination of further impairment in plasma clearance of VLDL and the poor conversion into IDL and LDL could account for the massive increase of beta-VLDL in underfed animals on cholesterol-rich diets.

Effects of a low-energy diet associated with egg supplementation on plasma cholesterol and lipoprotein levels in normal subjects: results of a cross-over study

1. The influence of a low-energy diet when associated with high-cholesterol intake was investigated in seventeen normal men during an 8-week cross-over study. The subjects were given a daily supplement of two whole eggs and two egg yolks (approximately 1 g cholesterol) either with their usual diet for 4 weeks or with a low-energy diet for 4 weeks. Each subject took part randomly in both dietary periods. 2. During the first part of the study, no changes occurred in the plasma cholesterol of the subjects with egg supplementation of the usual diet. 3. In contrast, the low-energy diet and associated weight loss markedly decreased tolerance to high-cholesterol intake resulting in increased plasma cholesterol. The mean rise was 22.7% but with wide individual variations in the response. This was almost completely normalized when the subjects returned to their usual energy intake indicating the involvement of weight reduction in the increase observed. 4. Changes in low-density-lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol were parallel to those of total plasma cholesterol with an increase following the low-energy diet and normalization after body-weight recovery. 5. The opposite effect was shown with the low-energy diet after previous adaptation to the consumption of four eggs per day. This dietary regimen resulted in a decrease in plasma cholesterol although it was not significant. Moreover, the lipoprotein profile was improved with a decrease in very-low-density-lipoprotein (VLDL) cholesterol and an increase in high-density-lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. 6. High-cholesterol intake induced significant changes in lipoprotein composition whatever the energy ration. LDL and HDL were enriched in cholesterol esters as early as the 1st month of egg supplementation of the diet. 7. Taken together, the results emphasize the possible adverse effect of slimming diets when associated with high-cholesterol intake. The existence of 'high-responders' to these dietary conditions calls for special attention to be paid to the cholesterol content of restricted diets.

Biochemical observations on rat aorta: interaction of dietary protein and cholesterol

1. The effect of cholesterol feeding during and after a period of protein malnutrition lasting 4 weeks was examined in the rat. Indices measured were plasma total cholesterol, triglycerides and protein levels, and aorta total cholesterol, triglycerides, hexosamine and hydroxyproline concentrations. 2. In both plasma and aorta, total cholesterol and triglycerides levels were higher in the low-protein diet group than in the standard-protein diet group, when cholesterol was supplied in both diets. 3. During the malnutrition period, cholesterol feeding led to a greater decrease in plasma protein than that promoted by the low-protein diet without cholesterol, while aorta hexosamine levels decreased to a lesser extent. 4. Cholesterol feeding with a standard-protein diet promoted a slight and temporary increase in aorta hydroxyproline levels, while a decrease in aorta hexosamine concentration was observed. Cholesterol feeding with the low-protein diet, on the other hand, also promoted a decrease in aorta hexosamine levels but to a lesser extent. 5. During the recovery period, cholesterol feeding impaired the return of plasma protein, aorta hexosamine and lipid levels to that of the control values. 6. These findings demonstrate that cholesterol feeding promotes different changes in aorta and plasma, depending on whether or not protein is supplied by the diet in adequate amounts. This point could be important in relation to the development of atherosclerosis during recovery from a period of malnutrition.

Effect of dietary restriction on cholesterol biosynthesis in the liver and the intestine of cholesterol-fed rabbits

The effect of dietary restriction (half of the control ration) on cholesterol biosynthesis was investigated in rabbits fed either standard or cholesterol-rich diets. Accompanying the amplification of hypercholesterolemia, additional disturbances of cholesterol metabolism were observed when cholesterol feeding was associated with dietary restriction. In the intestine, underfed rabbits showed a more marked inhibition of duodenal cholesterol biosynthesis from [14C]acetate following cholesterol feeding than rabbits on normal caloric ration. In contrast liver cholesterogenesis was equally suppressed in both groups receiving cholesterol-rich diets. Cholesterol biosynthesis from [14C]mevalonate was also inhibited by cholesterol feeding particularly in the duodenum of underfed rabbits. In addition cholesterol feeding induced a marked increase of the labeled esterified: free cholesterol ratio in the liver, demonstrating intensive esterification, this was enhanced by dietary restriction. The additional cholesterol which accumulates in the plasma and in various tissues in underfed rabbits is of dietary origin since the feedback control of cholesterogenesis by exogenous cholesterol was shown to be very effective in these animals.