Atherosclerosis (AS) is recognized as the original cause of most cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. The dual-protein (DP) nutrition that consists of soy protein and whey protein is reported to be associated with a reduction in AS; however, the relationship between DP and AS remains ambiguous. Therefore, this study aimed to verify the effect of DP on AS and explore the optimal DP intake to improve AS. ApoE-/- mice were administrated with low- (LDP), middle- (MDP), and high-dose (HDP) DP. The MDP group exhibited significant improvements in AS. In terms of lipid metabolism, the levels of plasma total triglyceride and LDL-C and the mRNA expression levels of Cyp7a1 and PCSK9 were markedly tuned in the MDP group. In addition, the MDP treatment group had a substantially lower inflammatory response and better intestinal barrier function than LDP and HDP groups. The species richness demonstrated by the Chao1 index was distinctly increased in the MDP group, and the relative abundance of intestinal-permeability-protective microbes Blautia and Akkermansia was significantly elevated. In summary, an adequate intake of DP was able to counteract atherosclerosis development in ApoE-/- mice, and this study provides a scientific theoretical basis for the application of DP in the food and pharmaceutical fields.
Keywords: atherosclerosis; dosage; dual proteins; gut microbiota; lipid metabolism.