The Effect of Dietary Protein, Fat, and Choline upon the Serum Lipids and Lipoproteins of the Rat

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Abstract
Young adult rats develop a marked hypocholesterolemia, hypolipemia, and hypobetalipproteinemia when fed soy protein diets low in methionine and choline. These effects are prevented by the addition of 0.3 per cent choline to the diet and are partially prevented by casein, presumably because of its increased methionine content. The level and type of dietary fat (ranging from 6 to 42 per cent and including butterfat, corn oil, and lard) did not modify this effect of choline upon serum lipids. A review of the available clinical, experimental, and epidemiologic data on man would suggest that the lipotropic factors as reflected principally by animal protein intake may play a role in controlling serum lipids in man as well as the rat.