Dietary proteins and atherosclerosis
More than 100 years ago the hypothesis «protein» of the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and its association with cardiovascular disease was put forward on the basis of animal experiments; however, it has so far never been verified in humans. This theory was soon replaced by the «lipid hypothesis», which was confirmed in humans as of 1994. Epidemiological ecological studies in the 1960s showed significant associations between dietary animal protein and mortality from cardiovascular disease. However, animal protein intake was also significantly correlated with saturated fatty acid and cholesterol intake.