Cowpea protein reduces LDL-cholesterol and apolipoprotein B concentrations, but does not improve biomarkers of inflammation or endothelial dysfunction in adults with moderate hypercholesterolemia

Author(s)

Goncalves Frota, Karoline de Macedo ^[1] ; dos Santos, Raul Dias ^[2] ; Ribeiro, Valdenir Queiroz ^[3] ; Gomes Areas, Jose Alfredo ^[4]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Fed Piaui, Dept Nutr, BR-64049550 Teresina, PI - Brazil

^[2] Univ Sao Paulo, Fac Med, Hosp Clin, Inst Coracao InCor, Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

^[3] Embrapa Meio Norte, Empresa Brasileira Pesquisa Agr, Teresina, PI - Brazil

^[4] Univ Sao Paulo, Dept Nutr, Fac Saude Publ, Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: NUTRICION HOSPITALARIA; v. 31, n. 4, p. 1611-1619, APR 2015.
• Web of Science Citations: 10

Abstract

Introduction: The risks of cardiovascular diseases, the leading cause of death in the world, can be reduced by diet. Cowpea protein has been shown to significantly reduce total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, and liver steatosis in hamsters. Objective: The objective of this proof-of-concept study was to verify whether the consumption of cowpea protein improves lipid profile and biomarkers of inflammation and endothelial dysfunction in adults with moderate hypercholesterolemia. Methods: In a randomized, double-blind, crossover design, 38 hypercholesterolemic subjects (LDL-cholesterol = 182.5 +/- 2.7 mg/dL) consumed 25 g/day of cowpea protein isolate or 25 g/day of casein (control group) for 6 weeks each, separated by a 4-week washout interval. Fasting blood samples were collected at baseline and at the end of each diet period. Lipids (total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL-cholesterol) were determined by enzymatic methods, apolipoproteins (apoA-I and apoB) by standardized immunoassays, inflammatory biomarkers (C-reactive protein) by turbidimetry, and biomarkers of endothelial dysfunction (intercellular adhesion molecule 1 and vascular cell adhesion molecule 1) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Results and discussion: Consumption of cowpea protein significantly reduced total cholesterol (12 %), LDL-cholesterol (18.9 %), nonHDL-cholesterol (16 %) and apoB (14 %), and increased HDL-cholesterol (+2.7 %). No significant differences between treatment groups were observed for any of the serum inflammatory or endothelial dysfunction biomarkers. Conclusion: The present findings demonstrated the favorable effect of cowpea protein consumption on proatherogenic serum lipids and apoB in subjects with moderate hypercholesterolemia, similar to what was observed in a previous studies on animals. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 12/15900-4 - Bioavailability of peptides from proteins of lupine, cowpea and amaranth, by permeability through Caco-2 cells and alterations in gene expression of the transporters associated with intestinal cholesterol absorption
• Grantee: José Alfredo Gomes Arêas
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 07/05977-1 - Effect of protein isolate from cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp) on cardiovascular risk markers of hypercholesterolemic patients
• Grantee: Karoline de Macedo Gonçalves Frota
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate