IS ATHEROSCLEROSIS EXCLUSIVELY A POSTPRANDIAL PHENOMENON?

SUMMARY 1. Atherosclerosis begins with the deposition of cholesterol in arterial tissue that is thought to be derived from circulating lipoproteins. There is considerable evidence implicating low density lipoprotein (LDL) as a primary source of plaque cholesterol and, consequently, there are many articles that deal with various aspects of LDL metabolism. 2. Postprandial lipoproteins (i.e. chylomicrons transporting dietary fats) are also considered pro-atherogenic; however, it is less clear whether their involvement in arterial cholesterol deposition is direct or follows modulation of LDL metabolism. 3. In order to provoke discussion, this article is presented in a manner that suggests atherosclerosis to be exclusively a postprandial phenomenon; that is, we have raised the possibility that LDL is non-atherogenic.