THE BLOOD LIPIDS IN THE POSTABSORPTIVE STATE AND AFTER THE INGESTION OF FAT IN NORMAL HUMAN SUBJECTS AND IN A CASE OF DISSEMINATED CUTANEOUS XANTHOMATA 1

Abstract

Ingestion of 100 cc. of olive oil by normal human subjects caused a variable increase in the fatty acid content of whole blood, the maximum being 35%, and in most cases no change in blood cholesterol. In one patient with cutaneous xanthomata the whole blood lipids ranged from 1160 mgm. to 2180 mgm. per 100 cc. over a period of 19 weeks. The total cholesterol varied from 322 to 470 mgm. and amounted to 21 to 28% of the total lipids. The proportion of cholesterol in esterified form was somewhat above normal. The response to ingestion of olive oil was essentially normal, the fatty acids increasing to a variable degree and the cholesterol being unaffected.