Obesity, Fat Metabolism and Cardiovascular Disease

Abstract

Lipoproteins of the S_f 12-100 class, representing only about 10 to 15 per cent of the serum cholesterol, are strongly associated with atherosclerosis. The major independent contributions to this association are from the S_f 12-20 lipoproteins and the S_f 35-100 lipoproteins. The S_f 20-35 lipoproteins are primarily associated by virtue of their intercorrelation with the other classes. Obesity is moderately associated with the S_f 35-100 and definitely, but to a lesser degree, with the S_f 12-20. The association of obesity with total serum cholesterol is so low as to obscure the stronger association with the S_f 35-100 lipoproteins. The relationship of the S_f 12-100 lipoproteins with obesity may be adequate to explain the major share, if not all, of the association of obesity with atherosclerosis. The control of obesity should therefore be a prime consideration in the management of atherosclerosis and its complications.