Effect of protein isolate from cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp) on cardiovascular risk markers of hypercholesterolemic patients

• Grant number: 07/05977-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: December 01, 2007
• End date: June 30, 2008
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Food Science and Technology - Food Science
• Principal Investigator: José Alfredo Gomes Arêas
• Grantee: Karoline de Macedo Gonçalves Frota
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Saúde Pública (FSP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The observed high prevalence of cardiovascular diseases in adults all over the World has motivated the search for alternatives to its reduction, especially the high plasma cholesterol concentration. Several epidemiological reports have shown the role of protein from soy and other foods in the reduction of the risk of cardiovascular diseases, through lowering plasma cholesterol concentration. Besides Soya other legume seeds and other raw materials have been suggested as beneficial in reducing lipid disorders, and, consequently, cardiovascular risk. Recent study has shown in hamsters the hypocholesterolemic effect of cowpea protein. The present work is part of a larger project towards the development of functional foods and its objective is to investigate the effect of protein isolate from cowpea on the lipid profile and other biomarkers of cardiovascular diseases in hypercholesterolemic patients. Volunteers will be recruited among the “INCOR” patients for a cross-over type double blind study. Patients will receive during 8 wks a liquid product (a shake) and will ingest 25g of cowpea protein per day. A casein shake with the same protein concentration will be used as a control. The product will be developed based on the Soya milk process already in use in the Food Industry. Pure protein isolated from cowpea will be added to obtain a protein concentration in the shake of 10g/100mL. The patients will take 250mL of the shake every day and total cholesterol, triacylglycerols, lipoproteins VLDL, LDL, HDL, apo proteins apo-A, apo-AI and apo-B concentrations will be determined in the patient’s plasma. Size of HDL, LCAT activity and LDL oxidized fraction will be also determined. Inflammatory markers, as the protein C reactive will be also measured. The effect of the proteins on the outcome variables will be compared through t Student test (alfa= 0.05)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

GONCALVES FROTA, KAROLINE DE MACEDO; DOS SANTOS, RAUL DIAS; RIBEIRO, VALDENIR QUEIROZ; GOMES AREAS, JOSE ALFREDO. Cowpea protein reduces LDL-cholesterol and apolipoprotein B concentrations, but does not improve biomarkers of inflammation or endothelial dysfunction in adults with moderate hypercholesterolemia. NUTRICION HOSPITALARIA, v. 31, n. 4, p. 1611-1619, APR 2015. (12/15900-4, 07/05977-1)

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

FROTA, Karoline de Macedo Gonçalves. Effect of cowpea protein (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp) in risk markers for cardiovascular disease in hypercholesterolemic patients. 2011. Doctoral Thesis - Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Faculdade de Saúde Pública (FSP/CIR) São Paulo.