Dietary and genetic effects on LDL size measures in baboons

Genetic and dietary effects on LDL phenotypes, including predominant LDL particle diameter, LDL size distribution, and non-HDL cholesterol and apoB concentrations, were investigated in 150 pedigreed baboons that are members of 19 sire groups. Baboons were fed a sequence of three defined diets differing in levels of fat and cholesterol. Increasing dietary fat had relatively little effect on two measures of LDL particle size. However, increasing the level of cholesterol in the diet resulted in larger increases of the predominant LDL particle diameters and in the proportion of stain on LDLs > 28 nm. As expected, apoB and non-HDL cholesterol concentrations significantly increased when levels of dietary fat and cholesterol were increased. Correlations among the LDL phenotypes suggested that several different aspects of the LDL phenotype were captured by the four LDL measures across the three diets. Genetic effects indicated by sire group membership were significant both for expression of the LDL phenotypes and for response to changes in diet.