ABSTRACT
Diabetes, dyslipidemia, and hypercholesterolemia are major risk factors for cardiovascular disease and stroke. These metabolic diseases are affecting an increasing number of people in not only developed but also developing countries. The World Health Organization estimates that more than 220 million people worldwide currently have diabetes with more than 80% of diabetes-associated deaths occurring disproportionately in low-and middle-income countries (https://www.who.int/ mediacentre/factsheets/fs312/en/index.html). In this decade, China is estimated to lose $558 billion in foregone national income due to heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. The importance of understanding the etiology of metabolic diseases cannot be understated for administrating appropriate treatments and developing preventive strategies.
