title: Cowpea protein reduces LDL-cholesterol and apolipoprotein B concentrations, but does not improve biomarkers of inflammation or endothelial dysfunction in adults with moderate hypercholesterolemia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The risks of cardiovascular diseases, the leading cause of death in the world, can be reduced by diet. Cowpea protein has been shown to significantly reduce total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, and liver steatosis in hamsters.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this proof-of-concept study was to verify whether the consumption of cowpea protein improves lipid profile and biomarkers of inflammation and endothelial dysfunction in adults with moderate hypercholesterolemia.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a randomized, double-blind, crossover design, 38 hypercholesterolemic subjects (LDL-cholesterol = 182.5 ± 2.7 mg/dL) consumed 25 g/day of cowpea protein isolate or 25 g/day of casein (control group) for 6 weeks each, separated by a 4-week washout interval. Fasting blood samples were collected at baseline and at the end of each diet period. Lipids (total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL-cholesterol) were determined by enzymatic methods, apolipoproteins (apoA-I and apoB) by standardized immunoassays, inflammatory biomarkers (C-reactive protein) by turbidimetry, and biomarkers of endothelial dysfunction (intercellular adhesion molecule 1 and vascular cell adhesion molecule 1) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Consumption of cowpea protein significantly reduced total cholesterol ( 12 %), LDL cholesterol ( 18.9 %), non HDL-cholesterol ( 16 %) and apoB ( 14 %), and increased HDL cholesterol (+2.7 %). No significant differences between treatment groups were observed for any of the serum inflammatory or endothelial dysfunction biomarkers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present findings demonstrated the favorable effect of cowpea protein consumption on proatherogenic serum lipids and apoB in subjects with moderate hypercholesterolemia, similar to what was observed in a previous studies on animals.
authors: Departamento de Nutrição, Universidade Federal do Piauí, Teresina-PI.. karolfrota@ufpi.edu.br.
authors: Karoline de Macedo Gonçalves
authors: Kde M
authors: Frota
authors: Instituto do Coração (InCor), Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo-SP.. raul.santos@incor.usp.br.
authors: Raul Dias
authors: RD
authors: dos Santos Filho
authors: Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária, Embrapa Meio Norte, Teresina-PI.. valdenir@cpamn.embrapa.br.
authors: Valdenir Queiroz
authors: VQ
authors: Ribeiro
authors: Departamento de Nutrição, Faculdade de Saúde Pública, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo-SP. Brazil.. jagareas@usp.br.
authors: José Alfredo Gomes
authors: JA
authors: Arêas
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001055:Apolipoproteins B / Q000097:blood*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000178:diet therapy*; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood* / Q000178:diet therapy*; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000097:blood; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D000070658:Vigna
chemical_list: D001055:Apolipoproteins B; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D004044:Dietary Proteins; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D008055:Lipids