Hereditary Obesity: Relation to Serum Lipoproteins and Protein Concentrations in Swine

Abstract

The importance of heredity in determining the cholesterol, lipoprotein, and plasma protein levels has received insufficient attention. All of these have a greater concentration in the blood of short-fat (mesomorphic), castrate, male, miniature pigs than in long-lean (ectomorphic) animals. These differences seem to persist even when weight changes and growth are rapid. We believe that some of the wide variability of blood lipid levels in human beings is due to genetic factors in the heterogeneous human population on varied diets.