Failure of Orotic Acid to Suppress Activity of Plasma Lecithin:Cholesterol Acyltransferase

Abstract

There are theoretical reasons for postulating a relationship between turnover of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins and plasma cholesterol esterifying activity, and some experimental evidence exists to support such a hypothesis. Orotic acid has been given to rats to determine whether blocking the hepatic release of very-low-density lipoproteins would also reduce hepatic secretion of lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT). No evidence of such an effect was found. In a single human experiment orotic acid exerted only minimal effects on serum concentrations of lipoproteins, and LCAT activity was apparently unaffected.

Key Words:

• cholesterol
• cholesteryl esters
• fatty liver
• lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase
• orotic acid
• triglycerides
• very-low-density lipoproteins