Atherogenesis: A postprandial phenomenon

Abstract

This presentation deals only with selected early manifestations of arterial pathology, i.e., lipid accumulation, and leans more heavily on my own work than is warranted by its importance. I shall, however, synthesize our findings with those of others in support of the view that arterial lipid accumulates as the result not only of abnormally high concentrations of low-density lipoproteins (LDL) in the blood plasma, but also a consequence of the normal process of lipid absorption and transport. This normal process may be innocuous in persons who ingest low-fat diets, but is probably pathogenic in those who consume a diet rich in fat and cholesterol.