This comprehensive work deals with the major health problem of high lipid levels in blood, a cause of serious heart and vascular disease. Formerly the province only of the chemical pathologist, cardiologists and general physicians are now offering treatment as new 'lipid-lowering' drugs become available. The area is also of considerable interest to public health physicians as changes in lifestyle (such as dietary and smoking habits) have significant effects on lipid levels. A prestigious team of contributors covers all aspects of the topic, from molecular biology to practical dietary management to help reduce lipid levels.

In this Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology on “High Density Lipoproteins – from biological understanding to clinical exploitation” contributing authors (members of COST Action BM0904/HDLnet) summarize in more than 20 chapters our current knowledge on the structure, function, metabolism and regulation of HDL in health and several diseases as well as the status of past and ongoing attempts of therapeutic exploitation. The book is of interest to researchers in academia and industry focusing on lipoprotein metabolism, cardiovascular diseases and immunology as well as clinical pharmacologists, cardiologists, diabetologists, nephrologists and other clinicians interested in metabolic or inflammatory diseases.

Diet and Health examines the many complex issues concerning diet and its role in increasing or decreasing the risk of chronic disease. It proposes dietary recommendations for reducing the risk of the major diseases and causes of death today: atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases (including heart attack and stroke), cancer, high blood pressure, obesity, osteoporosis, diabetes mellitus, liver disease, and dental caries.

Results from the National Research Council's (NRC) landmark study Diet and health are readily accessible to nonscientists in this friendly, easy-to-read guide. Readers will find the heart of the book in the first chapter: the Food and Nutrition Board's nine-point dietary plan to reduce the risk of diet-related chronic illness. The nine points are presented as sensible guidelines that are easy to follow on a daily basis, without complicated measuring or calculatingâ€"and without sacrificing favorite foods. Eat for Life gives practical recommendations on foods to eat and in a "how-to" section provides tips on shopping (how to read food labels), cooking (how to turn a high-fat dish into a low-fat one), and eating out (how to read a menu with nutrition in mind). The volume explains what protein, fiber, cholesterol, and fats are and what foods contain them, and tells readers how to reduce their risk of chronic disease by modifying the types of food they eat. Each chronic disease is clearly defined, with information provided on its prevalence in the United States. Written for everyone concerned about how they can influence their health by what they eat, Eat for Life offers potentially lifesaving information in an understandable and persuasive way. Alternative Selection, Quality Paperback Book Club

This timely, concise title provides an important update on clinical lipid management. Using information from recent clinical trials and in special populations, the book begins by offering an easy-to-read overview of LDL, HDL, and triglyceride metabolism and the genetics of lipid disorders. The link between inflammation and lipids, and how this relates to atherosclerosis development, is also addressed, as are the measures of subclinical atherosclerosis in patients with abnormal lipid levels. Lipid abnormalities in children, with a particular focus on vulnerable populations (with an emphasis on ethnicity and childhood obesity), are covered. The treatment goals and approaches for managing lipids in the clinic are thoroughly discussed, emphasizing the important role of statin use and addressing controversies of lipid management in special populations such as heart failure, end stage kidney disease and fatty liver disease. Of special note, an important update on how new HIV medications impact lipid levels is provided. In all, Lipid Management: From Basics to Clinic, is an invaluable, handy resource for understanding changes in lipids in different populations and for sharpening the clinical approach to managing complicated lipid cases.

Diabetes mellitus has become epidemic on a global scale, and millions of new cases are diagnosed every year. The epidemic of diabetes mellitus is expected to result in one of the steepest rises in human morbidity and mortality ever observed outside of wartime. Insulin resistance is a hallmark of pre-diabetes and type 2 diabetes mellitus, and is characterized by impaired insulin-signaling transduction. Authoritative and comprehensive, Lipoproteins in Diabetes Mellitus details the many changes wrought by insulin resistance and diabetes mellitus on lipid and lipoprotein metabolism. The book begins by summarizing the various techniques to measure lipoproteins and their subclasses. The mechanisms by which insulin resistance and diabetes mellitus increase risk for atherosclerosis, diabetic retinopathy, and diabetic nephropathy are then explored in detail. Finally, the effects of lifestyle modification and the results of clinical trials using established and investigational drugs are discussed. An invaluable contribution to the literature, Lipoproteins in Diabetes Mellitus is a comprehensive reference on the clinical and scientific aspects of lipoproteins in diabetes. It will have a long-lasting and significant effect on the medical management of people with diabetes.