Evening star., 1938-05-07
BLOOD SUBSTANCE
FOUND NEW CLUE
TO HEART MALADy
Excess of an Unsaturated
ChoIester0I Is Seen
Factor in AiIment.
D. c. SURGEON REPORTS
DISCOVERY AT FARLEY
Atherosclerosis Caused in Animals
by Diet Containing That
Constituent.
Presence in blood and tissues of ex-

Presence in blood and tissues Of ex-
cess amounts of an "unsaturated sec
ondary alcohol known as cholesterol
may be a significant factor in pro-
ducing the serious heart malady,
atherosclerosis, DR.. James Alexander
Lyon, Washington surgeon. reported to
the Medical Society of the District
of Columbia yesterday.
The disease is a fatty degenerat ton
duclng the serious heart malady,
atherosclerosis. DR.. James Alexander
Lyon. Washington surgeon. reported to
the Medical Society of the District
of Columbia yesterday.
The disease is ia fatty degeneration
of the heart arteries fairly common in
the aged but often appearing mys-
teriously in children and young adults.
Cholesterol is a normal constituent
of most tissues and. DR.. Lyon said, is
for the most part synthesized by the
individual. although a great deal of
it may be combined with fats which
are eaten and become freed in the
blood stream. Its normal function
is believed to be the metabolism of
fats and proteins. Also. DR.. Lyon
pointed out, the cholesterol molecules
are known to combine with fatty
acids and thus to act as transporters
of fat from its storehouses to parts
Of the body where it is needed and
back again.
Offers New Clue.
In some mysterious way the amount
OF cholesterol in the blood is tied up
with secretion from the thyroid gland
and increases rapidly when this Sc
cretion is below normal. When this is
combined with the presence of
atherosclerosis in many cases OF
hypothyroid functioning it gives a new
clue to the reason for this condi-
ton and for the old belief that per-
sons with heart disease should not
eat fat meat. Experimental athero-
sclerosis, DR.. Lyon said. has been
caused in animals by feeding them an
excess cholesterol diet
In ordinary good health. he said,
getting out of bounds The danger
comes when half its job is taken
away from it by great decrease of
proteins, in whose metabolism it plays
a large part. in the diet. 1t also in
creases when the basal meta bolism is
low, which may be one reason for the
prevalence of atherosclerosis in old
age. Atherosclerosis is a common ac-
compartment of diabetes and may
be accounted for. DR.. Lyon said. by
the high fat diet Of diabetic patients.
Prompts Tests for Dieting.
In his own practice. DR.. Lyon said,
it has become matter of routine to
make blood cholesterol measure
men at the same time as q basal
metaboliSm test as guide in pre-
scribing diet The cholesterol test
may even take the place of the metab-
olism test in cases where the latter
is impractical
1T is evident said DR.. Lyon
that the ability to tolerate choles-
terol must vary widely in different
individuals. In an individual with
an inadequate cholesterol tolerance q
diet rich in fat and cholesterol- bear
ing foods maintained over a long
period may contribute to the prema
ture development of degenerative le-
sions of the arteries when there are
predisposing factors present, such as
diabetes. apprehension and toxic or
nervous influences.
Diets made up of animal food
stutfS with high fat content have
been found to increase the cholesterol
in the blood. The less cholesterol
available the less extensive will be
the premature vasular changes"