The Relationship of Chronic Alcoholism to Atherosclerosis

The diet of the average person is so varied, fluctuant and unmeasurable that it is not ordinarily possible to determine whether its composition is concerned in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. That dietary factors may play a role in this disease is suggested by the following observations: 1. Lipid, notably cholesterol, is a conspicuous constituent of the arterial lesions. 2. Feeding of cholesterol to rabbits is followed by the development of comparable arterial lesions. 3. Severe atherosclerosis is more likely to develop in obese than in underweight persons.14. Periods of wasting and loss of weight are usually associated with depletion of the lipid deposits in human arterial lesions.2 Dietary peculiarities of populations in different countries, such as have been compiled by Rosenthal,3cannot be readily related to the incidence of atherosclerosis. Other environmental factors, differences in racial background and in climatic and economic conditions may be involved.