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Review
. 2025 Sep 15;27(1):93.
doi: 10.1007/s11883-025-01335-6.

Dietary Management of Atherogenic Dyslipidemia

Shieon Kim  1 , Min-Jeong Shin  1   2 , Ronald M Krauss  3
Affiliations
Review

Dietary Management of Atherogenic Dyslipidemia

Shieon Kim et al. Curr Atheroscler Rep. .

Abstract

Purpose of review: This paper reviews the effects of major macronutrients and specific dietary interventions on atherogenic dyslipidemia, a common trait characterized by increased concentrations of triglyceride-rich and small, dense LDL particles, and reduced HDL-cholesterol.

Recent findings: Studies have shown that reducing carbohydrate intake is the most effective dietary approach for managing atherogenic dyslipidemia, particularly in individuals with excess adiposity and/or metabolic syndrome. Plant protein sources can also be beneficial, possibly due to their content of phytochemicals. Whereas dietary guidelines emphasize limiting intake of saturated fat for reducing cardiovascular risk by lowering concentrations of LDL cholesterol, this has not been shown to have an impact on atherogenic dyslipidemia. Attenuation or reversal of atherogenic dyslipidemia can be achieved by adopting a dietary pattern that emphasizes moderating carbohydrate intake, in particular processed grains and added sugars, rather than by focusing primarily on limiting saturated fat and its effects on LDL-cholesterol.

Keywords: Atherogenic dyslipidemia; Carbohydrate restriction; Dietary intervention; Small dense LDL (sdLDL).

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Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Human and Animal Rights and Informed Consent: No animal or human subjects by the authors were used in this study. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Pathophysiology of atherogenic dyslipidemia. This figure summarizes the core mechanisms of atherogenic dyslipidemia, including increased VLDL and triglycerides, reduced HDL-C, and accumulation of sdLDL, and its relation to insulin resistance, visceral adiposity, and inflammation
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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