A study of high fat and cholesterol induced lipoprotein changes in first degree relatives of patients of myocardial infarction.
The effect of seven days feeding of high cholesterol and high fat breakfast (HCFB) (79.5 g fat, 1655 mg cholesterol) and its withdrawal was studied on 20 first degree relatives of patients of myocardial infarction (Group A) and 18 controls (Group B). All subjects were young (30 years of age) and had no other risk factor for ischaemic heart disease (IHD). At basal level the first degree relatives had significantly lower values for all lipid fractions except that of HDL. In the control group seven days after giving HCFB a significant rise occurred in all lipid fractions except LDL. The rise of HDL was dominant which led to a significant reduction in LDL/HDL ratio. However, in the first degree relatives no significant change could be observed in any lipid fraction. Seven days after the withdrawal of HCFB there was a significant reduction in all lipid fractions in controls but in first degree relatives the cholesterol level increased significantly from its basal value. However, other lipid fractions showed no significant change, and LDL/HDL ratio remained constant throughout. These different types of behavioural responses to cholesterol could be helpful in identifying high risk hereditarily predisposed persons at early age when basal lipid values are inconclusive.