Beschreibung:
<jats:p>The biological activities of a protein isolate from lupin (<jats:italic>Lupinus albus</jats:italic>) were studied in a rabbit model of atherosclerosis. Focal plaque development was induced at both common carotid arteries by perivascular injury. After surgery, animals were fed three different diets for 90 d, all with 1 % cholesterol, 15 % SFA and 20 % protein; the protein source was casein (CAS), lupin proteins (LUP) or 50 % CAS+50 % LUP (CAS+LUP). Lower cholesterolaemia was detected in the LUP <jats:italic>v.</jats:italic> the CAS group at 60 and 90 d of treatment ( − 40·3 and − 33·5 %, respectively; <jats:italic>P</jats:italic> < 0·05). Cryosection analyses of the carotids indicated a significant reduction in focal lesion progression in the LUP <jats:italic>v.</jats:italic> the CAS group ( − 37·4 %; <jats:italic>P</jats:italic> < 0·05). In summary, in a rabbit model of atherosclerosis, a protein isolate from <jats:italic>L. albus</jats:italic> reduced cholesterolaemia and exerted a remarkable protective activity against atherosclerosis progression.</jats:p>