LIPOPROTEIN PATTERN AS A FUNCTION OF TOTAL TRIGLYCERIDE CONCENTRATION OF SERUM*

Abstract

Twenty-six clear and lactescent sera from normal persons and a variety of patients with disorders of lipid metabolism were analyzed for cholesterol, triglycerides and cholesterol-to-phospholipid ratio of whole serum and of various lipoprotein fraction. Lipoproteins were ultracentrifugally separated into fractions of density (D) > 1.063, D 1.019-1.063, D 1.006-1.019, and D < 1.006. The latter were further divided into "heavy" and "light" chylomicrons. Triglyceride concentration of whole serum had a marked effect upon lipoprotein pattern. All triglyceride fatty acid increments over 6 meq/L occurred in the fraction D < 1.006. As triglycerides increased above this concentration, the relative concentration of cholesterol among the various fractions of D < 1.063 shifted out of the fraction D 1.019-1.063 and into the fractions of progressively lower density. On the basis of data presented it was possible to predict the cholesterol concentration of the various lipoprotein fractions from the concentration of triglycerides and cholesterol of whole serum.