Phytonutrients & Nutritional Interventions to Support Cardiovascular Health & Wellness
Lipids present in the blood and tissues of the body include cholesterol, cholesterol esters, triglycerides, and phospholipids. Since lipids are insoluble in blood (plasma), they must be transported to and from the cells by special carrier molecules, the lipoproteins. Abnormal lipoprotein or lipid metabolism may induce hyperlipidemia, or “high cholesterol” and hypertriglyceridemia known to be etiological factors incardiovascular disease. Dyslipidemias are defined as disorders of lipoprotein metabolism,includinglipoprotein overproduction or deficiency.
These disorders are generally manifested as elevated plasma levels of total cholesterol, low‐density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations; anda decreasein the plasma high‐density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol concentration. Aconditioncharacterizedby small,dense LDL particles, elevated triglycerides, and low HDL, termed the “atherogenic triad”, is characteristic of atherogenic dyslipidemia, often found in people with diabetes, metabolic syndrome and CHD (Chase, S.L, 2002).
