Dietary Effects on Blood Pressure

Physiological responses of cockerels to dietary protein and energy restriction

“…This agrees with the results reported by Nichols and Balloun (1963) that di etary restriction had no significant effect on systolic blood pressure of cockerels, although blood pressure was consistently lower for birds fed a restricted-energy diet. Although blood pressure was lower for restricted energy and restricted protein diets in experiment I, most of this difference was probably related to the light body weights of the birds fed the restricted diets.…”

“…The restricted birds exhibited a higher hydroxyproline content (collagen index) in the abdominal aortas, but this difference was apparent only at the six-and 12-month sampling periods. Nichols and Balloun (1963) have reported on the effects of feed restriction where birds were fed 70% of the amount consumed by a group receiving feed ^ lib, from one to 16 weeks of age. Weight gains were reduced but blood pressure and serum cholesterol were not affected by this degree of feed restriction.…”

“…These authors men tioned that these effects of meal-eating versus nibbling on body compo sition are the reverse of those observed in the rat. Nichols and Balloun (1963) fed cockerels a diet without added cho lesterol for two one-hour periods each day. Limited feeding time did not affect serum cholesterol or blood pressure.…”