Atherosclerosis remains the leading cause of severe cardiovascular complications such as cardio- and cerebrovascular events. Given that prevention and early intervention play important roles in the reduction of cardiovascular complications associated with atherosclerosis, it is critical to better understand how to target the modifiable risk factors, such as diet, in order to best minimize their contributions to the development of the disease. Studies have shown that various dietary sources of protein can affect blood lipid levels, a modifiable risk factor for atherosclerosis, either positively or negatively. This clearly highlights that not all proteins are "created equal." For example, consumption of diets high in either animal- or vegetable-based sources of protein have resulted in varied and inconsistent effects on blood cholesterol levels, often depending on the amino acid composition of the protein and the species investigated. Careful consideration of the source of dietary protein may play an important role in the prevention of atherosclerosis and subsequent cardiovascular complications. Given the recent focus on high protein diets, an emphasis on controlled studies in the area is warranted. The goal of this review is to present the current state of the literature that examines the effects of casein, a commonly utilized animal-based protein, on blood cholesterol levels and the varying effects noted in both animals and humans.

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The growing rate of obesity is of concern as the condition is associated with increased risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Diets that reduce or eliminate carbohydrates, while increasing fat and/or protein intake (Atkin’s Diet) are growing in popularity for rapid weight loss. Despite their effectiveness, recent studies have implicated these low-carbohydrate high-protein (LCHP) diets with an increased incidence of CVD and greater fatty deposits in the aortic wall than a traditional western diet (WD). We assessed the hypothesis that LCHP diets result in greater vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) dedifferentiation and a more pro-atherosclerotic environment when compared to a control diet (CON) or WD. Experiments were performed on aorta and plasma obtained from male Apolipoprotein E-knockout mice that were fed either regular chow (CON), WD or LCHP diet for 6 weeks. Immunoblotting was used to determine VSMC dedifferentiation as a marker of disease stage in isolated vessels using proteins calponin, alpha-actin, and TRPC1. Plasma lipid concentrations were obtained by liquid chromatography - mass spectrometry (LC-MS). Calponin was significantly downregulated in the LCHP diet versus both the WD and CON, with no difference detected between WD and CON. There was a trend towards a decreased level of alpha-actin and a higher TRPC1 level in the LCHP diet compared with CON (no differences between CON and WD). LC-MS data revealed significantly higher plasma levels of certain triglycerides in LCHP than WD. This data indicates that the LCHP diet results in a more synthetic phenotype of SMC as indicated by the diminished contractile protein expression (calponin and alpha-actin) and increased TRPC1, when compared to CON and WD. Additionally, the LCHP diet results in an abnormal lipid profile when compared to the WD; a traditional high-risk diet. Taken together, this data suggests that the LCHP diet results in an increased pro-atherosclerotic environment, even when equated to the WD in terms of cholesterol intake. This novel information may require attention from both clinicians and dieters when evaluating diet choices.

Introduction: Vegetarianism and veganism are becoming increasingly popular in North America due to reasons ranging from environmental motives to animal rights. While the vegetarian lifestyle allows some egg and dairy items, vegans completely abstain from all animal products in favour of plant-based diets. Of additional interest to vegans, are the health benefits associated with cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, weight loss and some particular forms of cancer. Case Presentation: Numerous studies have demonstrated drastic improvements in lipid markers such as low-density lipoprotein and total cholesterol that follows vegan dieting when compared to vegetarians or omnivores. This case report discusses a female patient who revealed abnormal lipid markers following blood analysis, despite observing a strict vegan diet for two years. Conclusion:It is questioned whether a vegan diet and its associated macronutrients are indeed beneficial for cholesterol levels or if adhering to this diet require more thorough investigation for an overall reduced risk of cardiovascular disease.