The Interrelationships of Serum Cholesterol, Cholesterol Esters and Phospholipids in Health and in Coronary Artery Disease

Abstract

Serum cholesterol (free, esters and total) and serum phospholipids were determined in 97 men who had experienced coronary heart disease prior to the age of 40, 146 healthy nonhospitalized men of comparable age and a group of 97 men who were "matched" to the coronary disease group. The mean values for serum cholesterol (total) were 286 mg. per 100 cc., 224 mg. per 100 cc., and 247 mg. per 100 cc. for the coronary disease group, control group and matched control group, respectively. The serum phospholipids were highest in the coronary disease group. It is demonstrated that the interrelationships of the lipids in coronary heart disease are more important than any one of the constituents taken by itself. The theoretic implications of the total cholesterol: phospholipids ratio are considered.