Effect of Protamine on Alimentary Lipemia

Abstract

The effect of protamine on the serum lipids during alimentary lipemia was investigated in normal male students and this effect was compared with that in atherosclerotic and in nonatherosclerotic men of the same age group. In the student group protamine produced a highly significant increase in the total fatty acid level, whereas in the 2 older groups no significant change occurred. These results were interpreted as demonstrating that circulating heparin exerts a physiologic effect on fat turnover in the young individual, an effect that is reduced with aging. It is suggested that the lowered fat tolerance known to occur with aging is the result of deficiency of circulating heparin.