Serum proteins associated with LDL-C and non-HDL-C reduction in response to dietary interventions in the DASH and...

The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet reduced low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol (C) and non-high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-C levels compared to the control diet. However, the mechanisms underlying the relation between the DASH diet and lipoprotein levels are not fully understood. We identified DASH diet-related proteins that were differently associated with LDL-C and non-HDL-C in two randomized controlled feeding studies comparing a DASH to control diet (DASH and DASH-Sodium trials). Two proteins [collagen triple helix repeat-containing protein 1 (CTHRC1) and growth differentiation factor 8 (MSTN)], and one protein [phytanoyl-CoA hydroxylase-interacting protein-like (PHYHIPL)], were differentially associated with changes in LDL-C and non-HDL-C, respectively, in the DASH and DASH-Sodium trials (P for interaction <0.05 for all tests). All proteins, except MSTN, were higher among those who consumed the DASH vs. control diets. All proteins were associated with reductions in lipoprotein levels among those who were provided with the DASH diets (range of β = -3.69 to -1.76) and elevations among those who were provided with the control diets (range of β = 0.20 to 3.47). Proteins involved in the TGF-β pathway and inflammatory processes that were lowered by the DASH diet were associated with reductions in LDL-C and non-HDL-C levels. Clinical Trial registration number: NCT03403166 (DASH trial), NCT00000608 (DASH-Sodium trial).