[Diurnal patterns of plasma lipids and lipoproteins in primary endogenous hypertriglyceridemia (type IV-hyperlipoproteinemia) (author's transl)].

Acute and chronic effects of three isocaloric diets on plasma lipids and plasma lipoproteins were studied in 10 patients with primary endogenous hypertriglyceridemia (type IV-hyperlipoproteinemia). The diets used contained 20% protein, 50, 37 and 1% fat and 30, 43 and 79% carbohydrates respectively. Cholesterol levels were similar with all diets. Fasting values of plasma triglycerides were lower with the fat-containing diets compared to the high-carbohydrate diet. Diurnal patterns, however, were significantly higher with the former diets in 8 of the 10 patients. Postprandial lipoprotein patterns on fat-containing diets are characterized by chylomicronemia and marked changes of concentration and composition of other lipoprotein classes. If, analogous to diabetic therapy, control of hypertriglyceridemia is meant to imply low all-day levels rather than low fasting levels, a rather low-fat, high-carbohydrate diet seems to be superior in most patients with endogenous hypertriglyceridemia to diets containing more than 35 calorie per cent of fat.