MILK PRODUCT AND CONSTITUENT PROTEIN EFFECTS ON PLASMA AND HEPATIC LIPIDS AND SYSTOLIC BLOOD-PRESSURE OF NORMOTENSIVE RATS

The effects of diets containing casein (C), whey protein concentrate ( W), skim milk protein concentrate (MPC), and yogurt powder (Y) on plas ma total cholesterol, triacylglycerides and HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C), h epatic total lipids and cholesterol levels were studied in normotensiv e Wistar rats. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) was recorded weekly from 6 to 10 weeks of age. Diet effects were compared to animals fed soy pr otein isolate (S) and, rat chow (RC) diets. Animals were meal fed unti l 10 weeks of age, when blood and liver tissue samples were collected. All groups exhibited similar growth rates. Animals fed C, W, MPC and S diets exhibited similar plasma triacylglycerides and total cholester ol levels, which were higher (p less-than-or-equal-to 0.05) than in Y and RC animals. HDL-C was higher (p less-than-or-equal-to 0-05) in C, W and MPC fed animals, than those fed Y or RC. HDL-C in S fed animals only approached a significantly (p less-than-or-equal-to 0-07) lower a mount compared to C, W and MPC fed animals. Hepatic total lipids and c holesterol were not significantly (p > 0-05) different between groups. The small changes in plasma lipids observed in animals fed dairy prod ucts had little effect on SBP in normotensive rats.