CAROTENOIDS IN MAN. THE DISTRIBUTION OF EPIPHASIC CAROTENOIDS IN ATHEROSCLEROTIC LESIONS 1

Abstract

The total epiphasic carotenoid and total cholesterol content were determined in segments of 30 atherosclerotic human aortae. The character and extent of lesions found in each specimen were graded systematically and these grades averaged to provide an estimate of the severity of atherosclerosis present. Increasing severity of atherosclerosis was found to be accompanied by a parallel increase in carotenoid and cholesterol content. A dietary lipid has therefore been shown to accumulate in constant relation to the major single lipid found in atherosclerosis.