The role of hypertriglyceridemia in atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis is a chronic disease associated with accumulation of lipids in lesions along blood vessels, leading to the occlusion of blood flow. Much of the focus has been on the role of low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and of oxidatively modified LDL, in the initiation and progression of this disease. LDL is in fact a metabolic end-product of the triglyceride-rich lipoproteins (ie, very-low density lipoproteins). Over the years, univariate analyses have implicated triglycerides as a contributor in atherosclerosis. However, depending on the studies, the significance of this relationship is either reduced or nullified when other co-variates are taken into account. This review summarizes more recent data that support the role of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins in the atherosclerotic process, both in the fasted as well as in the postprandial state.