Multiple Infectious Agents and the Origins of Atherosclerotic Coronary Artery Disease.

ABSTRACT: Although deaths due to atherosclerotic coronary artery disease (ACAD) have fallen dramatically during the past 50 years, ACAD remains as the leading cause of death in all continents, except Africa, where deaths due to infections are still dominant. Although food and nutrition have a proven role in atherosclerosis, the underlying causes of ACAD remain unknown. This is despite a century of intensive research dominated by investigations into the saturated fat hypothesis. In this review, it is hypothesized that the rise and fall in ACAD during the past 100 years is primarily due to the parallel rise and fall in the prevalence of coronary atheroma, the underlying disease. It is further hypothesized that infectious pathogens initiate atherosclerosis mainly during infancy and childhood. It is spe

SUBMITTER: Lawson JS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5018484 | biostudies-literature | 2016

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature