Effect of protein, unsaturated fat, and carbohydrate intakes on plasma apolipoprotein B and VLDL and LDL containing apolipoprotein C-III: results from the OmniHeart Trial.
BACKGROUND
Plasma apolipoprotein B (apo B) and VLDL and LDL with apolipoprotein C-III (apo C-III) are independent risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Dietary intake affects lipoprotein concentration and composition related to those apolipoproteins.


OBJECTIVE
We studied differences in apo B lipoproteins with and without apo C-III after 3 healthy diets based on the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension Trial diet.


METHODS
Healthy participants (n = 162) were fed each of 3 healthy diets for 6 wk in a crossover design. Diets differed by emphasis of either carbohydrate (Carb), unsaturated fat (Unsat), or protein (Prot). Blood was collected at baseline and after diets for analysis.


RESULTS
Compared with the Carb diet, the Prot diet reduced plasma apo B and triglycerides in VLDL with apo C-III (16%, P = 0.07; 11%, P = 0.05, respectively) and apo B in LDL with apo C-III (16%, P = 0.04). Compared with the Unsat diet, the Prot diet reduced triglycerides in VLDL with apo C-III (16%, P = 0.02). Compared with baseline (subjects' usual diet was higher in saturated fat), the Prot diet reduced apo B in LDL with apo C-III (11%, P = 0.05), and all 3 diets reduced plasma total apo B (6-10%, P < 0.05) and apo B in the major type of LDL, LDL without apo C-III (8-10%, P < 0.01). All 3 diets reduced the ratio of apo C-III to apo E in VLDL.


CONCLUSIONS
Substituting protein for carbohydrate in the context of a healthy dietary pattern reduced atherogenic apo C-III-containing LDL and its precursor, apo C-III-containing VLDL, resulting in the most favorable profile of apo B lipoproteins. In addition, compared with a typical high-saturated fat diet, healthy diets that emphasize carbohydrate, protein, or unsaturated fat reduce plasma total and LDL apo B and produce a lower more metabolically favorable ratio of apo C-III to apo E.
Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.
Jeremy D
JD
Furtado
Hannia
H
Campos
Lawrence J
LJ
Appel
Edgar R
ER
Miller
Nancy
N
Laranjo
Vincent J
VJ
Carey
Frank M
FM
Sacks
D000328:Adult; D053305:Apolipoprotein C-III / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects; D001055:Apolipoproteins B / Q000097:blood* / Q000187:drug effects; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D004042:Dietary Fats, Unsaturated; D004044:Dietary Proteins; D002149:Energy Intake; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000097:blood* / Q000187:drug effects; D008079:Lipoproteins, VLDL / Q000097:blood* / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D054555:National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (U.S.); D014481:United States
D053305:Apolipoprotein C-III; D001055:Apolipoproteins B; D001798:Blood Proteins; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D004042:Dietary Fats, Unsaturated; D004044:Dietary Proteins; D008055:Lipids; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; D008079:Lipoproteins, VLDL