title: Postprandial lipaemia and vascular disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In this review we discuss the postprandial pathophysiological mechanisms that promote vascular disease, the evidence for a role of postprandial lipaemia (PPL) in vascular disease and the effect of modifiable and nonmodifiable factors in PPL.
  
  
  RESULTS
  PPL refers to the dynamic changes in serum lipids and lipoproteins (mainly in serum triglycerides) that occur after a fat load or a meal. Recent data indicate that postprandial or nonfasting triglyceride levels are better predictors of cardiovascular risk, suggesting that efficiency of postprandial handling of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins plays a role in the causation of vascular disease.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The recent finding that postprandial serum triglyceride levels are even better than fasting serum triglyceride levels as predictors of vascular disease indicate that it is better to measure an index of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins (in most cases serum triglyceride levels) in the postprandial period than in the postabsorptive fasting state. Moreover, by the time the postabsorptive state is reached, some of these proatherogenic triglyceride-rich lipoprotein changes may be missed in the measurement.
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Department, Onassis Cardiac Surgery Center, Athens, Greece. genovefa@kolovou.com
authors.forename: Genovefa
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kolovou
authors.forename: Teik Chye
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Ooi
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008019:Life Style; D019518:Postprandial Period; D012307:Risk Factors; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood*; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology*
chemical_list: D014280:Triglycerides