Cholesterol transport and uptake in miniature swine fed vegetable and animal fats and proteins. 2. LDL uptake and cholesterol distribution in tissues.

In a 2 X 2 factorial arrangement, miniature pigs were fed four diets containing vegetable protein/fat (soybean) and animal protein (egg white)/fat (beef tallow) to demonstrate the effects of protein and fat source on tissue cholesterol concentrations, uptake of intact low density lipoproteins (LDL) and free cholesterol exchange from LDL to tissues. Soybean oil feeding, compared with beef tallow feeding, resulted in greater concentrations of cholesterol in aorta, heart, and large and small intestines. Similar trends were seen in liver, adipose tissue and skeletal muscle. Dietary protein source had little or no effect on tissue cholesterol concentrations. Uptake of intact LDL, as measured by using [14C]sucrose-LDL, tended to be greater in pigs fed soybean oil or soy protein. Net exchange of free cholesterol from LDL, as measured with [3H]cholesterol, tended to be greater when vegetable products were fed. Relative contributions of whole tissues to total uptake by either mechanism were not influenced by diet. Mechanisms in addition to uptake of cholesterol from LDL seem to be involved in the greater accumulation of tissue cholesterol resulting from polyunsaturated fat feeding.