ABSTRACT
Nutrition is among the most important environmental factors in the regulation of the serum lipoprotein levels. It has long been acknowledged that the total serum cholesterol level is a risk factor for the coronary heart disease. Dietary factors and serum lipoproteins increase steroid excretion, possibly suggesting indirectly a slight increase in the cholesterol synthesis in the liver. In disorders of the lipid metabolism, the influence of dietary fat saturation may have more pronounced effects. Carbohydrates have their main effects on very low density lipoproteins (VLDL) fraction of plasma lipoproteins, thus affecting plasma triglyceride content. Restricted dietary energy intake increased LDL triglyceride levels while high density lipoproteins cholesterol concentration decreased. Calcium intake may decrease plasma total cholesterol concentration. Nicotinic acid is used in pharmacological doses to treat hypertriglyceridemias but at physiological concentrations no definite effect on plasma lipids has been demonstrated. Coffee drinking has probably no effect on plasma cholesterol concentration.
