Does plasma HDL-C concentration interact with whole-body cholesterol metabolism?

• Published in: Nutrition, metabolism, and cardiovascular diseases Vol. 23; no. 4; pp. 279 - 284
• Main Authors: Leança, C.C., Nunes, V.S., Nakandakare, E.R., de Faria, E.C., Quintao, E.C.R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.04.2013
• Subjects: Animals; Anticholesteremic Agents; Anticholesteremic Agents - therapeutic use; Biomarkers; Biomarkers - blood; biosynthesis; blood; Cardiovascular; cholesterol; Cholesterol - biosynthesis; Cholesterol - blood; Cholesterol metabolism; Cholesterol synthesis; Cholesterol, Dietary; Cholesterol, Dietary - blood; Cholesterol, HDL; Cholesterol, HDL - blood; Diabetes mellitus; Diabetes Mellitus - blood; drug effects; drug therapy; Dyslipidemias; Dyslipidemias - blood; Dyslipidemias - drug therapy; Dyslipidemias - genetics; genetics; HDL; high density lipoprotein; Humans; Insulin Resistance; Intestinal Absorption; Kinetics; Lipid Metabolism; Lipid Metabolism - drug effects; therapeutic use; HDL; Insulin resistance; Cholesterol synthesis; Cholesterol metabolism; Diabetes mellitus
• ISSN: 0939-4753; 1590-3729; 1590-3729
• DOI: 10.1016/j.numecd.2012.12.003

This review examines the interactions between plasma high density lipoprotein (HDL) metabolism and whole-body cholesterol economy. More specifically, this review addresses three questions: 1) does plasma HDL-C concentration correlate with the parameters of whole-body cholesterol metabolism? 2) Do variations in cholesterol metabolism interfere with plasma HDL-C concentrations? 3) Are the markers of cholesterol synthesis and intestinal absorption specifically under the control of plasma HDL? The following answers were provided to each question, respectively: 1) plasma HDL influences whole-body cholesterol synthesis rate but the evidence that HDL modifies the total amount of cholesterol absorbed by the intestine is not clearly supported by present investigations; 2) there are suggestions that changes in whole body cholesterol metabolism rates do not interfere with plasma HDL-C concentrations; 3) markers of cholesterol synthesis and absorption may specifically be controlled by plasma HDL-C concentrations regarding the genetic causes of extremely low HDL-C concentrations, although within the general population plasma HDL-C concentration is likely ascribed to insulin resistance or diabetes mellitus.