Current Vascular Pharmacology - Volume 9, Issue 3, 2011

An Expert Panel group of scientists and clinicians met to consider several aspects related to non-fasting and postprandial triglycerides (TGs) and their role as risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD). In this context, we review recent epidemiological studies relevant to elevated non-fasting TGs as a risk factor for CVD and provide a suggested classification of non-fasting TG concentration. Secondly, we sought to describe me Read More

Background/Aim: Triglycerides (TGs) are measured in studies evaluating changes in non-fasting lipid profiles after a fat tolerance test (FTT); however, the optimal timing for TG measurements after the oral fat load is unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate how non-fasting TG levels vary after an oral FTT in healthy subjects. Methods: This meta-analysis included 113 studies with >5 participants of Caucasian race that Read More

Non-fasting triglycerides are measured at any time within up to 8 h (14 h) after any normal meal, while postprandial triglycerides are measured at a fixed time point within up to 8 h (14 h) of a standardised fat tolerance test. The simplest possible way of evaluating remnant cholesterol is non-fasting/postprandial total cholesterol minus low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol minus high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. Ele Read More

Accumulating evidence suggests that elevated plasma triglycerides concentrations, in both the fasting and the postprandial states, may pose a significant independent risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Both fasting and postprandial lipoprotein concentrations vary substantially among individuals, and this interindividual variability is driven by a combination of non-genetic and genetic factors. Regarding the genetic comp Read More

At the present time, there is no widely agreed definition of postprandial lipaemia (PPL). This lack of a shared definition limits the identification and treatment of patients with exaggerated PPL as well as the evaluation of potential therapeutic agents. PPL is a complex syndrome characterized by non-fasting hypertriglyceridaemia that is associated with an increased risk of vascular events. This review considers the definition of PPL Read More

Postprandial lipemia (PPL) refers to a dynamic sequence of plasma lipid/lipoprotein changes induced by ingestion of food. PPL results from absorption of digested dietary lipids which form chylomicrons (CM) and increased hepatic production of VLDL, stimulated by increased delivery of fats to the liver. In general, PPL occurs over 4-6 h in normal individuals, depending on the amount and type of fats consumed. The comp Read More

Numerous factors including diet, lifestyle conditions, genetic background and physio-pathological conditions modulate the amplitude and time-courses of postprandial changes in humans. This review focuses on dietary factors affecting postprandial lipemia and lipoproteins metabolism in humans. The known effects of amount or type of fat, carbohydrate, protein and fiber are summarized. Changing the habitual dietary pat Read More

Recent studies have demonstrated the value of non-fasting serum triglycerides (TG) as risk markers for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease. This underscores the importance of knowing the postprandial lipid/lipoprotein responses to different foods. A systematic approach is needed to make use of postprandial lipid data as a practical nutritional tool, similar to the well known glycemic index (GI), which is a me Read More

Atherosclerosis is a result of a lifelong process that has its origins in childhood. Data in adults suggest that impaired postprandial lipoprotein metabolism may contribute to, or be a marker of, the development and progression of atherosclerosis. After an 8-year follow up period, the Bogalusa Heart Study showed that children with low high density lipoprotein cholesterol, high triglyceride levels and high body mass inde Read More

Revascularization procedures used for the treatment of cardiovascular disease can be associated with restenosis, although drug-coated stents have greatly reduced this complication. Both type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and metabolic syndrome (MetS) are associated with a high risk for atherosclerosis and restenosis. Insulin resistance, defined as the inability of insulin to exert its metabolic actions, characterizes both T2DM and MetS. Re Read More

Hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) is a nuclear transcription factor that is upregulated in hypoxia and coordinates the adaptive response to hypoxia by driving the expression of over 100 genes. In facilitating tissues to adapt to hypoxia, HIF-1 may have a role in reducing the cellular damage induced by ischaemia, such as that seen in peripheral arterial disease (PAD), or following acute ischaemic insults such as stroke and myo Read More

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common clinically relevant cardiac arrhythmia. Prevalence and incidence rates are rising with the advancing population age. A severe complication of untreated AF is thrombus formation in the left atrial appendage with consecutive peripheral thromboembolism. Thus, AF is a major contributor to thromboembolic events, especially in the elderly. Depending on the CHADS2 score Read More

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is an endogenous polypeptide that modulates angiogenesis in normal physiological conditions as well as in cancer. During angiogenesis, VEGF interacts with several other angiogenic factors, playing an important role in cell proliferation, differentiation, migration, cell survival, nitric oxide (NO) production, release of other growth factors and sympathetic innervation. Based on these mech Read More