[Dietary treatment of hyperlipoproteinemia]

Hyperlipoproteinemias are most common metabolic disorders, both in clinic and in practice. Primarily, these metabolic disorders are caused by exogenous factors (nutrition etc.), secondly by genetic factors (LDL-receptor defects, apoprotein variants, etc.). Although a number of efficient lipid lowering drugs is now available, basically any lipid lowering therapy should start with the change of nutritional habits. Beside the reduction of eventually increased body weight, special attention should be paid to fat modification, fat restriction and the decrease of cholesterol intake. With regard to fat restriction, mainly the intake of saturated fatty acids has to be decreased, an increase of polyunsaturated fatty acids to not more than approximately 10% of total energy intake should be considered. Recently, the beneficial effect of monounsaturated fatty acids has been discussed, particularly due to the fact that these fats do not reduce HDL cholesterol. For excessive hypertriglyceridemia the use of omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil should be considered, general recommendations for the long-term treatment with fish oil for prevention of cardiovascular diseases cannot be made.