Blood Lipids and Human Atherosclerosis

Abstract

The transport of cholesterol and other lipids of serum is almost wholly in the form of very large molecular complexes of these lipids with variable amounts of protein. The exact components present in the blood of a particular individual may be quantitatively described both as to character and concentration by ultracentrifugal flotation of these components in the analytic ultracentrifuge. With this technic it is possible to demonstrate the presence of certain lipid and lipoprotein components which are related to coronary atherosclerosis, to hypertension and to other diseases associated with atherosclerosis, such as diabetes mellitus, the nephrotic syndrome and hypothyroidism. The blood level of these components may be influenced by dietary means. The blood level of these components is poorly correlated with the analytic serum cholestrol determined by the Schoenheimer-Sperry method.