Effects of Dietary Protein and Fiber on Growth and Selected Cholesterol Responses of Rats

Abstract

The effect of dietary protein and fiber on growth and metabolic parameters in blood serum, liver and kidney were determined in a 2 × 5 factorial experiment involving 40 Sprague-Dawley rats. Treatment variables were two dietary protein levels (16 and 24%) and five acid detergent fiber levels (6, 10, 16, 24 and 34%). No difference in growth rate of rats was found due to varying levels of either protein or fiber in the diet. Increasing the dietary protein level from 16 to 24% resulted in an 18.5% reduction in blood cholesterol. The dietary treatment containing 16 % fiber influenced most metabolic parameters examined, including blood serum cholesterol, liver cholesterol and total lipid content in liver and kidney. Rats receiving the diet containing 16% fiber had the highest serum cholesterol (88.9 mg/dl) and the lowest liver cholesterol (4.4 mg/g) as compared with other fiber groups.

Influence of Different Protein Intake on Renal Growth in Young Rats

“…We did not find any difference in growth between the groups receiving 12% and 21% protein, which corroborates the findings of Park and Harrold (17). It therefore seems that there is a certain range within which protein intake can be varied without influencing growth.…”

Metabolism of cholesterol and triglycerides in young pigs fed beef-based, soy-based, or conventional diets

“…Sacks and coworkers (1983) (Carroll, 1978). Kritchevsky (1979) Carroll, 1976;Hevia et al, 1979), dietary fiber (Hamilton and Carroll, 1976;Kritchevsky et al, 1977;Park and Harrold, 1983), and dietary lecithin (Jenkins et al, 1983).…”