Effect of Caloric Restriction on Cholesterol Atherogenesis in the Rabbit

Abstract

Rabbits on severe caloric restriction were fed cholesterol and showed significantly increased blood cholesterol, fatty acids, lipproteins and phospholipids. The degree of these biochemical changes and of the atherosclerosis was greater than that of a control group fed similar amounts of cholesterol in addition to a normal diet. Therefore, severe caloric restriction does not protect, but enhances cholesterol induced atherosclerosis in rabbits. This effect of weight loss should be taken into consideration in experiments on atherosclerosis.