Effects of Dietary Casein, Soy, and Methionine-Supplemented Soy on Serum Lipids Level in Rats

The objective of the current study was to determine the influences of dietary proteins and methionine on plasma lipid concentrations. Thirty growing male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed diets similar in all respects except that dietary protein was from either casein, soy protein isolate, or soy protein isolate supplemented with Lmethionine (0.24%). The animals were fed experimental diets ad libitum for nine weeks. Plasma total-cholesterol concentrations were unaffected by the protein source or methionine supplementation. Plasma triglyceride concentrations were lower in rats of methionine supplemented soy protein diets (76 mg/dL) than in the rats fed casein or soy diet (120 mg/dL, 109 mg/dL, respectively). These results indicate that soy protein reduces plasma triglycerides relative to casein in rats fed cholesterol free diets, and that methionine-supplemented soy diets decrease plasma triglyceride concentrations more than soy protein alone.