LAUSR

Since the initial discovery of the links between dietary fats, blood lipids and coronary heart disease (CHD) risks nearly eight decades ago [1, 2], extensive research has been conducted in this area and the risk factor role of blood lipids and lipoproteins in the development of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (CVD) is firmly established. Significant improvements in our understanding of the physiological role, function, regulation and metabolism of each lipoprotein class during health and disease have permitted the establishment of reference values for normal (optimal or desirable) and pathological concentrations for both proand anti-atherogenic lipoprotein classes. These values provide guidance to clinicians when assessing an individual patient’s risk of developing CVD and have also been used in guidelines to monitor treatment effects and to establish therapeutic goals. It is increasingly appreciated that lipid and lipoprotein traits differ between population (ethnic/racial) groups and/or geographical locations. For example, at a population level, African-Americans have higher levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and lower levels of triglycerides compared to Caucasians [3, 4]. These population-specific characteristics in lipid profile may become important in evaluating the dynamic interplay between multiple risk factors, leading to the development of CVD [3].