Cholesterol synthesis, cholesterol absorption, and mortality in hemodialysis patients.

Background And Objectives: Recent clinical trials on cholesterol-lowering in patients with CKD yielded conflicting results, which might have resulted from different treatment strategies. Serum cholesterol levels are determined by endogenous synthesis and intestinal absorption, which are differentially influenced by various classes of cholesterol-lowering agents. Assessing markers of cholesterol metabolism has thus been proposed for guidance of lipid-lowering therapy.

The relationships of markers of cholesterol homeostasis with carotid intima-media thickness.

Background: The relationship of cholesterol homeostasis and carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) is unknown. To address this, we assessed markers of cholesterol homeostasis (serum plant sterols and cholesterol precursor concentrations as surrogate measures of cholesterol absorption and synthesis, respectively) and cIMT in a middle-aged, statin-naive population.

Methods: In this prospective study of primary prevention cIMT was measured by ultrasound in 583 hospital employees aged 25-60 years without prevalent cardiovascular disease or lipid-modifying medication.