Kinetic studies to investigate lipoprotein metabolism

To develop novel strategies for the prevention and treatment of dyslipidaemia, it is essential to understand the pathophysiology of dyslipoproteinaemia in humans. Lipoprotein metabolism is a complex system in which abnormal concentrations of various lipoprotein particles can result from alterations in their rates of production, conversion and/or catabolism. Traditional methods that measure plasma lipoprotein concentrations only provide static estimates of lipoprotein metabolism and hence limited mechanistic information. By contrast, the use of tracers labelled with stable isotopes and mathematical modelling provides a powerful tool for probing lipid and lipoprotein kinetics in vivo and furthering understanding of the pathogenesis of dyslipoproteinaemia.