Postprandial lipoprotein metabolism and atherosclerosis

Postprandial lipids and lipoproteins have been associated with the presence of cardiovascular disease in a large number of case-control studies. Becau se the metabolic perturbations around the postprandial situation is a key d riving force for cholesterol flux between lipoproteins and tissues, togethe r with the augmented generation of potentially atherogenic cholesterol-rich remnant lipoproteins, several hypotheses have been formulated to link exce ssive lipoproteinaemic response to fat intake with cardiovascular disease. Recent information on the regulation of lipoprotein remnant formation and i ts relation Ito atherosclerosis will enable us to test a pertinent clinical question: is there a direct relationship between repeated elevations of po stprandial lipoproteins and development of atherosclerosis?