Circulating serum fatty acid synthase is elevated in patients with diabetes and carotid artery stenosis and is LDL-associated.

Background And Aims: Diabetes is an independent risk factor for carotid artery stenosis (CAS). Fatty acid synthase (FAS), an essential de novo lipogenesis enzyme, has increased activity in the setting of diabetes that leads to altered lipid metabolism. Circulating FAS (cFAS) was recently observed in the blood of patients with hyperinsulinemia and cancer.