Experimental atherosclerosis in rabbits on diets with milk fat and different proteins

In this thesis the literature about the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis has been reviewed. The various risk indicators for atherosclerosis are discussed and related to the theory about atherogenesis. A review of the influence of milk fat constituents and dietary proteins on serum lipids and atherosclerosis is presented. Experimental results obtained with rabbits fed on semi-synthetic diets are reported. It is shown that large amounts of butyric acid have the same effect on blood, liver and tissue lipids and fatty acids as starch. Hypercholesterolemic affects of butter oil can be mainly ascribed to its cholesterol content. The hypercholesterolemic effects of semi-synthetic diets containing saturated fats can be mainly ascribed to the use of casein as protein source. The hypercholesterolemia induced by semisynthetic diets is shown to be the consequence of decreased faecal steroid excretion. It is suggested that the different serum cholesterol levels induced by various dietary proteins are due to a redistribution of serum cholesterol to other body compartments