Effect of High Protein Diet on Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors

Overweight and obesity are worldwide problems which are also associated with diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and cardiovascular disease risk factors. High protein diets are one of the approaches in weight loss that emphasize on the improvement of the cardiovascular risks. The aim of the present study was reviewing the evidences regarding the effects of high protein diet on cardiovascular disease risk factors.

We searched in PubMed search engine from 2002 to October 2011, by limiting the title using the following key words: weight loss, lipid profile, triglyceride, high or low density lipoprotein, total cholesterol, cardiovascular risk, glucose level, and high protein diet. Totally, 25 clinical trials (parallel or crossover) were recruited in this review.

Consumption of high protein diet (22-35 percent) affects weight loss, reducing serum glucose level, and improving lipid profile [low density lipoprotein (LDL), high density lipoprotein (HDL), triglyceride (TG), and total cholesterol]. High protein diet may have useful effects on weight loss more than diet with the normal amount of protein. Serum triglyceride and total cholesterol levels may improve more in high protein diet with low fat animal protein sources and vegetable proteins.

High protein diet positively improve cardiovascular disease risk factors such as body mass index (BMI), lipid profile, and serum glucose level.