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Renin Angiotensin Mechanism.

Disorders of lipid metabolism.

 

Definition:

  •  Disorders caused due to faulty lipid metabolism.

  • There are many, we are going to study mainly,

    • Hypercholesterolemia, 

    • Atherosclerosis, 

    • Fatty Liver and 

    • Obesity

  1. Hypercholesterolemia:

  • It is defined as an elevated blood cholesterol level.

  • Typical dietary sources of cholesterol are meat, poultry, dairy products, eggs and fish. 

  • Foods rich in saturated fats and trans fats cause the liver to make an excess of cholesterol, which can result in hypercholesterolemia. 

  • Remember Cholesterol has a very high biological significance. 

  • Excessive levels of cholesterol, however, can lead to many diseases.

  • Causes

    • The high levels of circulating cholesterol start depositing in blood vessel walls causing them to lose their contractility making it harder and narrower; it's simply called “Atherosclerosis”.

    • When such a condition happens to the coronary artery it leads to angina pectoris and heart attacks.

    • The carotid artery (artery supplying blood flow to the brain) narrows and hardens over time, and the person may have a stroke. 

    • Hypercholesterolemia can also be hereditary. 

    • The cause of high cholesterol levels is often a high-fat diet and a lack of physical activity, even if the condition is inherited. 

  • Prevention and Treatment:

    • Can be preventable by following a healthy lifestyle, such as exercising regularly and eating a low-fat diet. 

    • Cholesterol-lowering medications like “statins” may be used. 

    • Lipoproteins are divided into different types based on the amount of cholesterol. 

      • HDL

      • LDL

      • VLDL

      • Chylomicrons.

    • Various parts of the body receive cholesterol from low density lipoprotein (LDL) and VLDL which may develop atherosclerosis. 

    • Bad cholesterol is often called LDL and VLDL.

    • HDL is called  "Good cholesterol".

    • Physical inactivity, diets that are high in fat, and obesity contribute to high LDL levels and low HDL. 

    • Smokers, diabetics, high blood pressure, and those with a family history of heart disease and stroke are also at risk.

  1. Atherosclerosis:

  • The main cause of atherosclerosis is cholesterol plaques lining the arteries that harden and narrow with time. 

  • The narrowing of your arteries can make blood flow more difficult and results in hypertension. 

  • Arteriosclerosis is also called atherosclerosis or atherogenic cardiovascular disease. 

  • Most of the time this leads to cardiovascular diseases, such as heart attacks and strokes.

  • Common Causes:

    • Smoking

    • Diabetes and obesity

    • High blood pressure

    • Inflammation

    • High cholesterol

  • Treatment:

    • Lipid lowering agents.

    • Lesser lipid-containing diets.

    • Change in lifestyle.

3.Fatty liver:

  • When triglycerides and other fats build up inside the liver cells the condition is called “Fatty Liver”. 

  • Occasionally, fatty liver is associated with inflammation of the liver and liver cell death (steatohepatitis).

  • A fatty liver is also known as hepatic steatosis. 

  • Too much fat can cause health problems. 

  • The liver plays an important role in your health as the second largest organ in your body. 

  • A liver's primary function is to process food and drink nutrients and remove harmful substances from the bloodstream. 

  • There is a risk that damage to the liver will result when the liver is inflamed due to too much fat in it. 

  • If the scarring becomes severe, it can lead to liver failure. 

  • When people who drink a lot of alcohol develop fatty liver, this is called alcohol-related fatty liver disease (AFLD). 

  • Those who do not drink much alcohol are susceptible to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

  • There are four stages of liver fatty tissue:

  • Simple fatty liver - 

    • An excess of fat has accumulated in the liver. Generally harmless as long as they don't progress.

  • Steatohepatitis - 

    • The liver is inflamed in addition to having excess fat.

  • Fibrosis - 

    • Persistent inflammation. 

    • Liver is still capable of functioning normally.

  • Cirrhosis - 

    • Due to scarring, the liver can no longer perform its normal functions. 

    • Irreversible scarring of the liver has occurred.

Common symptoms of Fatty Liver:

  1. Nausea

  2. Yellow skin

  3. Itchiness

  4. Pale stools

  5. Abdominal pain

  6. Confusion

  7. Breast enlargement in men

  8. Easy bruising as well as bleeding

  9. Dark coloured urine.

3. Obesity:

  • An excessive amount of body fat is the cause of obesity. 

  • It's a medical condition that increases the risk of high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, and certain types of cancer.

  • Fat accumulation that is abnormal or excessive may impair health, which is the definition of overweight and obesity. 

  • An individual's body mass index (BMI) determines whether they are overweight or obese by combining their weight and height. 

  • The weight/height ratio is equal to the square of a person's height in meters x the kilograms they weigh (kg/m2).

  • The following are the WHO definitions for overweight and obesity in adults:

    • BMI of 25 and above is considered overweight;

    • Obesity is defined as having a BMI greater than 30.

  • BMI is the best indicator of overweight and obesity at the population level as it is the same for men and women of all ages.

  • Treatment:

    • Change in lifestyle.

    • Lipid lowering agents.

    • Surgery: Liposuction.

    • Anti Obesity medicines like Dexamphetamine.

Commonly Asked Questions.

  1. Discuss various diseases related to lipid metabolism.

  2. Write a short note on the following,

    1. Hyperlipidemia.

    2. Fatty liver.

    3. Atherosclerosis.

    4. Obesity.
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