Another new study showing the benefits of a protein-enriched diet, with the protein source being red meat no less, appeared as an advanced online publication from the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Each of these studies is another drop all of which will ultimately gather into a deluge washing away all the low-fat nonsense that has littered the landscape for so long.
This study looks at what happens to chylomicrons when you compare people with moderate elevations of triglycerides on a low-fat, high-carbohydrate diet with a similar group following a protein-rich diet. Subjects in both groups consumed the same number of calories and the same percentage of fat; the subjects in the study group replaced some of the carbohydrate with lean protein from red meat. After 6 weeks on their respective diets both groups of subjects were given a high-fat meal and had their blood examined for the effects.
The group following the low-fat, higher carbohydrate diet has a “substantially exaggerated” response in terms of chylomicron levels after the fat challenge than did those on the higher-protein diet.
What are chylomicrons?
Chylomicrons are synthesized continuously in the intestinal epithelia [the lining of the intestine] and enter the circulation following the ingestion of fat as triglyceride-enriched particles. Each chylomicron contains significant quantities of cholesterol estimated to be 40 times more than that for low-density lipoproteins (LDL) [the so-called “bad” cholesterol].
What do they do?
Chylomicron remnants have been implicated in the progression of atherosclerosis, with elevated fasting remnant lipoprotein levels shown to independently predict clinical events in coronary artery disease.
The authors conclude:
The findings of this study suggest that a modest shift in energy intake from carbohydrates to protein as lean red meat will not adversely affect coronary artery disease risk and in fact may improve it in hypertriglyceridaemic individuals.
We’re back to the Lipid Hypothesis. If the Lipid Hypothesis is false, then this study is simply interesting. If the Lipid Hypothesis is true, then this study provides data showing that the higher-protein, lower-carb diet is more healthful.
One problem with this study, at least in the eyes of those promoting low-fat diets is that it was partially underwritten by Meat and Livestock Australia.