Clinical studies in blood lipid metabolism. IX. Effect of lipotropic agents on serum lipid partitions in fifty patients with generalized atherosclerosis; a three year study.

1. Fifty patients with clinical generalized atherosclerosis and chronic coronary artery disease were maintained on a low-fat, low-cholesterol diet for thirty-six months. Twenty-five of these patients were given therapeutic dosages of a lipotropic preparation during this period. 2. Serum lipid fractions such as cholesterol, phospholipids, total lipids and neutral fats were determined and averaged on all fifty patients at the onset of the study and at six month intervals for a period of three years. 3. Except for a slight decrease in blood serum cholesterol of all the fifty patients, attributable to the low-fat dietary restrictions, there were no significant differences in any of the other serum lipid fractions. 4. Changes in the ratio of phospholipid to cholesterol were practically the same in the control and lipotropic groups of patients. 5. Low-fat, low-cholesterol diet will attain the same end result as lipotropic agents upon reducing serum lipid partitions. 6. Loss of weight had no bearing on the diminution of the lipid partitions. 7. There is no clinical or laboratory confirmation for the value of the administration of the present known lipotropic preparations in the treatment or prophylaxis of human atherosclerosis. Thanks and appreciation are expressed to Miss Dorothy Schork for the preparation of the graphs.