The effect of protein-free diet on blood pressure in the Wistar rat

The relationship between blood pressure (BP) and an 18 day protein free diet (PFD) was studied in unanesthetized male Wistar rats beginning at 20 weeks of age. Following cessation of the 18 day diet, BP was monitored for 8 weeks. Both the PFD animals and a control diet (CD) group showed a reduction in BP from 20 weeks to 30 weeks. Reduction in BP for PFD animals was 3 times that of the CD animals across the diet period. The authors caution the reader in terms of generalizing across strains for this effect and suggest that a greater data base is needed before a definite statement can be made concerning the effects of a protein free diet on BP.