Effects of a lupin protein concentrate on lipids, blood pressure and insulin resistance in moderately dyslipidaemic patients: A randomised controlled trial

- A lupin concentrate and a skimmed milk powder tested on lipids and cardiovascular risk factors.
- Randomised, parallel, double-blind, single-centre study, 12-week intervention.
- Reductions of LDL-C, non-HDL-C, and PCSK9 significant only after the lupin diet.
- Significant reduction of HDL-C concentration only observed after the milk diet.

The study had the objective of evaluating the effects of a lupin protein concentrate on plasma lipids and other cardiovascular risk factors, e.g. blood pressure and insulin resistance, compared to a skimmed milk powder. Fifty subjects followed a randomised, parallel, double-blind, single-centre study, consisting in a 12-week intervention: half of the participants consumed a lupin protein concentrate (30 g/day of protein), the other half a lactose-free skimmed milk powder (30 g/day of protein), both integrated into a mixed low-lipid diet. At the end of intervention, both groups showed similar reductions of total cholesterol concentrations versus baseline (−6.7%, and −7.2%, respectively), but the reductions of LDL-cholesterol (−8.0%), non-HDL-cholesterol (−7.5%), and proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) (−12.7%) levels were statistically significant only after the lupin diet. A significant reduction of HDL-cholesterol concentration was observed only after the milk diet. The differences between the two groups, however, were not statistically significant.