REVIEW - FISH-PROTEIN AND CHOLESTEROL-MET ABOLISM

Fish consumption has been recommended in the prevention and treatment of major public diseases such as cardio-and cerebrovascular diseases. Such beneficts have been related exclusively with the fatty portion of fish, rich in polyunsaturated fatty acid of n-3 (w-3) family. However , recently, new data support the hypothesis that fish protein per se c an play a worth-while beneficial role upon cholesterol and lipoprotein metabolism. In this review several studies are reported on the effect of fish protein upon cholesterol metabolism in experimental animals ( rabbits and rats) and in human beings. In those animals, the fish prot ein improves the lipoprotein profile with respect to casein or soy bea n protein. In man, fish protein increases HDL-cholesterol levels but d oes not modify the total cholesterol/HDL-cholesterol ratio. Finally th e possible role of some contituent amino acids is discussed.