Serum lipid studies in familial hypercholesterolemic xanthomatosis

Abstract

The effects of dietary fat alterations and of MER/29 therapy on serum lipids in a patient with familial hypercholesterolemic xanthomatosis are presented. The diets used in this study include a control diet, a 20 gm. fat diet in which carbohydrate was substituted isocalorically for fat in the control period, a diet in which 40 gm. of corn oil was substituted isocalorically for fat in the control period, and a diet in which 90 gm. of corn oil was substituted isocalorically for fat in the control diet. Serum total cholesterol, free cholesterol, lipid phosphorus, tri-, di- and monoglycerides, nonesterified fatty acids, and total lipids were determined three times weekly throughout the study. The results are difficult to interpret because of the variation in serum lipid concentrations between control periods. However, it is believed that the best response was achieved with the second corn oil diet when the serum total cholesterol values decreased approximately 125 mg./100 ml., a fall of 28 per cent. Lipid phosphorus and NEFA mean concentrations also decreased on this corn oil diet. A less impressive fall in serum total cholesterol was observed with MER/29, and no significant change in lipid phosphorus was noted. These data are discussed and compared with the results of others.