[Hypercholesterolemia: a picture of the situation]

Serum cholesterol exceeding 200 mg/dl or LDL-cholesterol above 140 mg/dl are considered hypercholesterolemic values. 20% of hypercholesterolemias are attributable to genetic disorders of lipoproteins or lipoprotein receptors while diet-induced hypercholesterolemia accounts for more than 60%. Fatty acids and cholesterol content of the diet play an important role in the regulation of serum cholesterol level. Saturated fatty acids increase serum cholesterol level by reducing the synthesis of LDL receptor-protein while unsaturated fatty acids have the opposite effect. Dietary cholesterol has been demonstrated to play a variable influence of serum cholesterol level, depending upon the efficiency of cholesterol absorption from the intestine and conversion of cholesterol to bile acids in the liver.