FURTHER INVESTIGATION ON THE HYPOCHOLESTEROLEMIC EFFECT OF VEGETABLE PROTEINS IN THE RABBIT

The effects on growth rate, serum and liver lipids of two vegetable pr oteins, peanut meal (a low-quality protein) and soy protein, were comp ared to those of two animal proteins, casein and fish protein, in rabb its fed purified diets for 30 days. As expected, total serum, low-dens ity lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol l evels were significantly lower in rabbits fed vegetable protein diets than in those fed animal protein diets. However, peanut meal induced l ower weight gain and liver weight than casein, soy or fish protein. In addition, higher concentrations of triglycerides were observed in ser um and liver of rabbits fed the peanut meal diet compared to those fed soy or fish protein diets. These results show that even though peanut meal may induce serum cholesterol levels as low as those obtained by soy protein, this vegetable protein is unable to promote normal growth and to maintain low serum and hepatic triglyceride levels in the rabb it.