A Review on Causes and Risk Factors of Hyperlipidemia

Hyperlipidemia is a condition of elevated lipid level in blood. Hyperlipidemia may be defined by serum total cholesterol >240mg/dL and/or LDL cholesterol >160mg/dL and/or total cholesterol: HDL ratio >5.7 and/or total triglycerides > 150mg/dL in adults. Hyperlipidemia is a major cause of atherosclerosis and atherosclerosis related conditions like coronary heart disease (CHD), ischemic cerebrovascular disease,peripheral vascular disease and pancreatitis1-2. The increase in lipids like low density lipoproteins (LDL), cholesterol (esters derivatives) and triglycerides are mainly responsible for this condition. Many inter-related causes and risk factors are considered for the development of hyperlipidemia and other chronic illnesses of metabolic syndrome (diabetes and hypertension). Exogenous factors, such as dietary intake (fat, cholesterol), alcohol, use of contraceptives and other pharmacologic agents are indicated as the main secondary causes and risk factors of hyperlipidemia in adults. Other secondary causes of hyperlipidemia (diabetes mellitus, alcohol intake, weight gain, physical activity and drugs) need to be included in avoiding hyperlipidemia and its effects/complications. This review article mainly focuses on the causes and risk factors of hyperlipidemia. TREESA VARGHESE*, K. KRISHNAKUMAR, L. PANAYAPPAN, ROSMIN JACOB Department Of Pharmacy Practice, St .James College Of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chalakudy, Kerala, India. St .James Hospital Trust Pharmaceutical Research Centre (DSIR Certified) Chalakudy, Kerala, India. Submission: 4 June 2017 Accepted: 10 June 2017 Published: 25 June 2017 www.ijppr.humanjournals.com Citation: TREESA VARGHESE et al. Ijppr.Human, 2017; Vol. 9 (3): 60-65. 6