Hypolipidemic Drugs and Lipoprotein Metabolism

Insight into the mechanism of action and efficacy of hypolipidemic drugs has awaited the development of the current concepts of lipid transport (1). Fundamental is the fact that the blood fats-- cholesterol, phospholipid, and triglyceride-- do not circulate free in the plasma. Lipids exist in a soluble form in the blood only because they are bound to protein. These proteins serve as detergents and solubilize the otherwise insoluble lipid. It is as lipid protein complexes or lipoproteins that all fat enters and leaves the blood stream.