Cruz GY

Language: Spanish
References: 0
Page: 125-151
PDF size: 595.30 Kb.

ABSTRACT

The Framingham Study established for the first time the association between hypercholesterolemia and mortality caused by acute coronary events. Since then other intimacies of the structures, functions and metabolism of blood lipids have been revealed. Cholesterol fractions are supramolecular aggregates of lipids and proteins in charge of transportation, distribution and final disposal of fats and other lipids ingested with diet or endogenously synthetized. At the core of any of the lipid fractions varying amounts of triglycerides, free cholesterol and esterified cholesterol can be found. Homeostasis of lipid fractions is strictly dependent upon their intestinal absorption rates, liver synthesis, peripheral uptake, and final disposal. An increased availability of cholesterol and triglycerides, along with a reduced peripheral uptake, and an impaired final disposal, result in the trapping of serum lipids under the endothelial bed, and thus, deformity of the arterial lumen that might progress up to occlusion, and end up in the rupture of the endothelial layer and unleashing of a cataclysmic event such an infarction. There is a permanent interest in the development of superior analytical methods for exact measurement of serum lipid fractions, and the refinement of algorithms predicting cardiovascular risk through integration of collected analytical information. In addition, realization of the influence food lifestyles exert upon the status of serum lipid fractions has justified the issue of population recommendations to limit the intake of food fats and cholesterol, on one hand; and the design of several nutritional strategies for intervention of situations of hypercholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia. It is expected this essay contributes to a better knowledge of lipid metabolism, and an effective intervention of dyslipidemias currently prevalent given the extension of excessive body weight, obesity and Metabolic syndrome.