Acid Mucopolysaccharides, Cholesterol, Calcium, and Magnesium Content of Japanese Aortas.

A study on the relationships of the contents of acid mucopolysaccharides (AMPS), cholesterol, calcium and magnesium in Japanese aortas to the occurrence and severity of intimal disease was performed. A diminished yield of AMPS found with advancing atherosclerosis proved statistically significant. Comparatively, the AMPS content of Japanese aortas in the first six decades was less and the aortic cholesterol, calcium and the severity of atherosclerosis were delayed two to three decades in Japanese when compared with those in Americans.