Effect of acute fat loads on serum lipids in atherosclerosis.

Since the imposition of a lipid load might uncover latent defects in lipid absorption or transport, "normal" individuals, and those with atherosclerosis, were subjected to test meals of butter fat, and qualitative and quantitative aspects of serum lipids and lipoproteins were measured. In contrast to the metabolic defects in diabetes mellitus which can be uncovered by a glucose load, the metabolic faults in atherosclerosis are not readily influenced by single or repeated high fat meals.