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Numerous factors affect plasma cholesterol and, therefore, represent potential interferences with the specific effects of diet on lipid metabolism. After casein intake, serum cholesterol levels depend on many experimental conditions in rats, such as the type of casein, the presence or absence of cholesterol in the diet, the age and strain of rat, the diet composition, the nutritional status. The effect of fasting duration on selected parameters was studied in adult male Wistar rats fed a 20% casein and 1% cholesterol-based diet. No changes were observed in total serum, lipoproteins-B and HDL cholesterol and in triglyceride values after an 8 h-fast compared to non-fasted animals. A significant decrease was induced in total and lipoproteins-B cholesterol with a 12 h-fast. A prolonged fast resulted in a significant decrease in these parameters and in triglycerides and in HDL-cholesterol levels. Fasted animals fed heated soybean meal instead of casein did not display a marked decrease in serum lipids. It appeared that the fasting effect was more marked in animals fed casein than in animals fed soybeans. These results showed the importance of experimental conditions such as nutritional status of animals when blood samples are taken in studies of the hypocholesterolemic effect of soy protein compared to casein. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]