Dietary restriction and the development of atherosclerosis

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Abstract
White Carneau pigeons develop genetic atherosclerosis. The aorta shows intimal cushions at birth, cholesterol accumulation at 9 mo. of age and definite atherosclerotic lesions by 3 yr of age. To determine whether these age-related changes can be prevented by dietary restriction started early in life, 3 mo. old pigeons were subjected to dietary restriction (40% of ad lib diet). Plasma cholesterol levels, cholesterol excretion and aortic cholesterol concentrations were compared with those of pigeons on the ad lib diet. The pigeons on dietary restriction showed a decrease of 30% in weight. The plasma cholesterol levels of these pigeons decreased 20% when compared with those of the ad lib group. In the dietary-restricted group, the fecal excretion of bile acids (P < 0.01) and the aortic cholesterol level (P < 0.02) were significantly reduced, with changes in the free and in the esterified sterol fraction. For the 1st time, age-related accumulation of aortic cholesterol was shown to be prevented or at least delayed by dietary restriction started early in life.