One hears a constant mantra of the benefits of soy protein in lowering
cholesterol, yet not enough questioning of what kind of cholesterol is being
lowered.  In a recent study (Sugiyama K et al. Methionine content of dietary
proteins affects the molecular species composition of plasma
phosphatidylcholine in rats fed a cholesterol-free diet.  J. Nutr. 1997; 127:
600-607.) HDL cholesterol was lowered over 40%!  This is hardly desirable or
cardioprotective.  LDL was also lowered, and the upshot from this animal study
is that the HDL:total cholesterol ratio remains about the same.  The absolute
HDL apart from the ratio is gaining increasing importance, and therefore
questions whether lowering is always beneficial if HDL is brought down with
LDL.  It may be doing more harm than good.


Question: Does anyone in the group know the n6/n3 ratio of grasses that
animals in the wild forage upon?  I am trying to figure out the effect of
animals eating grasses on the fatty acid profile of their meat.  Thanks.

Happy holiday to this esteemed and fun group!

Robert Crayhon, M.S.
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