Diets realistic for westernized people significantly effect lipoproteins, calcium, zinc, vitamins C, E, B6 and haematology in vervet monkeys.

This report describes measurements of 50 variables in adult, female, reproductively inactive Vervet monkeys during prolonged nutrition realistic for westernized people. Dietary treatments consisted of an atherogenic Western diet (WD) and a prudent Western diet (PD). Ingredients were normal foods for man and no extra cholesterol was added. Fortification of both diets with vitamin C after cooking was necessary to prevent deficiency. Randomised groups of Vervet monkeys received either the PD or WD for 47 months, while a third group was fed WD for 20 months and then PD for 27 months (WD-PD). Before the dietary treatments nourishment was by a high carbohydrate diet (HCD) and baseline and reference values (RV) apply to this nutritional status. Plasma total cholesterol (mg/dl) was increased from 147 (HCD) to 174 (PD) and 376 (WD). Individual cholesterolaemio response ranged from mild to severe and was stable (PD and WD). Dietary reversal (WD-PD) reduced cholesterolaemia promptly. Statistically significant increases in calcium, zinc and vitamin E and decreased vitamin B6 were associated with the WD relative to the PD (in serum and plasma). Two cholesterol metabolising microsomal enzymes in liver were notably increased and one unchanged (WD). There were no dietary effects on triglycerides, vitamin A and glucose in plasma; insulin, glucagon, electrolytes, copper, magnesium or enzymes reflecting liver, muscle or brain cell damage in serum. Red blood cells, platelets and directly associated parameters increased (WD), haemoglobin was the same and haemoglobin per red cell decreased. Bleeding time was not affected. Bivariate correlations across the diets confirmed that Western nutrition promoted inherent individual susceptibility to cholesterolaemia. There were notable differences from RVs in total cholesterol, calcium, packed cell volume and haemoglobin, which emphasise excesses and deficiencies of the WD and PD.