Summer 2016 LipidSpin Articles | National Lipid Association Online

CARL E. ORRINGER, MD, FACC, FNLA	From the NLA President: A Note of Thanks As I near the end of my term as president of the National Lipid Association (NLA), I have so many thoughts about this rewarding experience that I want to share with you. I remember meeting with an ever-smiling Michael Davidson, MD, FNLA, in 2004, who had so much to tell me about this young organization that he thought would be a perfect fit for me. He asked me to come to a Midwest Lipid Association (MWLA) Regional Update, and by the time I left that meeting, I knew that I was hooked for good... more
LINDA C. HEMPHILL, MD, FNLA	From the NELA President: Myth Busters Welcome to the Scientific Sessions issue of the LipidSpin — this year sponsored by the Northeast Lipid Association (NELA). We have had a lot of fun putting this issue together, and hope that you will enjoy reading this issue just as much. The theme for this issue is “Debunking Common Myths in Clinical Lipidology.” The thought behind this theme was that we all (nurses, MDs, RDs, pharmacists, etc.) are regaled from time to time by well-meaning patients who have believed... more
DANIEL E. SOFFER, MD, FNLA	From the LipidSpin Editor: Debunking Myths in Clinical Lipidology “He who thinks he knows, doesn’t know. He who knows that he doesn’t know, knows. For in this context, to know is not to know. And not to know is to know.” – Joseph Campbell, The Power of Myth I provide printed instructions to my patients after office visits that read: “As we discussed, you have significant atherosclerosis and risk for serious cardiovascular events and I strongly recommend a heart-healthy diet, regular activity/exercise, no smoking, aspirin... more
SCOTT W. ALTMANN, PhD W. SEAN DAVIDSON, PhD	Clinical Feature: The Continuing Saga of HDL: Truth, Fallacy, or Something in Between? William Hazlitt, an 18th century literary critic and philosopher, once said, “When a thing ceases to be a subject of controversy, it ceases to be a subject of interest.”1 If one accepts his premise, then interest in high-density lipoprotein (HDL) shall endure for some time. As far as contemporary medical controversies go, the HDL story is definitely in contention. Without question, our evolving understanding of the structure and metabolism of lipoproteins has led to important... more
OM P. GANDA, MD	Guest Editorial: Myth: Insulin is Always the Best Option in Type 2 Diabetes The global epidemic of type 2 diabetes (T2DM) continues unabated. Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) and heart failure (HF) are the most common causes of T2DM-related mortality. More than 90 percent of patients with T2DM are overweight or obese. The pathogenesis of this disorder is heterogenous, but insulin resistance and relative β-cell dysfunction are its key characteristics. Insulin resistance is a major contributor to cardiometabolic syndrome, comprising the... more
ERIK M. KELLY, MD LINDA C. HEMPHILL, MD, FNLA	EBM Tools for Practice: Chelation Therapy is a Proven Treatment for Cardiovascular Disease: Myth or Fact? Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in the U.S.1 There have been many important advances in the treatment of CVD in recent decades. However, not all touted therapies carry the same quality of evidence supporting their use. Chelation therapy is one such treatment that has been controversial since its inception more than half a century ago. Is its use as a treatment for CVD proven or a myth? Chelation therapy, the intravenous infusion of... more
JULIE P. BOLICK, MS, RDN, LDN, FNLA HEATHER RASMUSSEN, PhD, RDN, LDN	Lipid Luminations: Coconut Oil Supplementation and Lipids Coconut oil consumption is rapidly increasing. This increase is in part because of supposed health benefits, including relieving mental fatigue and depression, altering risk factors of cardiovascular disease, and modifying cognition.1 Despite limited evidence for these purported benefits, consumption and therefore demand in the food industry is rising.2 To better delineate the potential for coconut oil to modify cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors, including serum cholesterol,... more
WAHIDA KARMALLY, DrPH, RD, CDE, FNLA PENNY KRIS-ETHERTON, PhD, RD, FAHA, FNLA	Specialty Corner: Nutrition Recommendations and Disorders of Lipid Metabolism: Untangling the Confusion among Consumers and Healthcare Providers There is an impressive portfolio of evidence-based dietary recommendations for cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk reduction, including those from the American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology (AHA/ACC)1 and the National Lipid Association (NLA),2 and for health promotion (2015–2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans – DGAs).3 Despite evidence-based recommendations, there are ongoing controversies about diet and disease that pervade both the popular media and scientific literature... more
FRANCES M. BURKE, MS, RD LAUREN KELLEY-CHEW, BA	Practical Pearls: Dietary Trans Fatty Acids And Cardiovascular Disease Risk: Should We Go Back to Using Butter? Structure, Function, Dietary Sources Trans fatty acids (TFAs) are industrially produced during the partial hydrogenation of vegetable oils and they contain at least one double bond in the trans configuration. Smaller amounts are found naturally in meat and dairy products as a result of bacterial fermentation in ruminant animals.1 Partial hydrogenation of vegetable oil increases its stability for commercial deep-frying, prolongs product shelf life, and improves the... more
ERIN CONWAY, PharmD KENNETH KELLICK, PharmD, FNLA	Guest Review: A Review of Dietary Supplements for Hyperlipidemia The intent of this article is to review the over-the-counter (OTC) products and dietary supplements that have proven effective on cholesterol levels. There is little direct evidence of how these supplements affect cardiovascular outcomes. Additionally, the dosage forms, recommended daily dosage, and content of these products often vary among manufacturers. OTC medications differ from dietary supplements in terms of their U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulatory requirements... more
LINDA C. HEMPHILL, MD, FNLA	Chapter Update: News from NELA It is a real privilege to serve as the president of the Northeast Lipid Association (NELA). Part of that privilege is having a bird’s eye view of all of the wonderful things the NELA membership is doing. As the president, I feel that my main contributions have been to provide a word of encouragement here or a suggestion there. Overall, however, the success of the NELA chapter is really a testament to the amazing NELA membership — which is not only constantly brimming with new ideas, but also... more
WENLIANG SONG, MD, MS, MTR	Member Spotlight: Wenliang Song, MD, MS, MTR Wenliang Song, MD, is a third-year internal medicine resident at Bridgeport Hospital of Yale University. He has been a very active young member of the National Lipid Association (NLA). He is on the NELA Membership Committee and the Early Career Development Committee. Dr. Song recently took the initiative to promote awareness of the NLA through a “bottom up” strategy. He introduced the NLA to his residency program and received an extraordinary response. Inspired by that, he built an email... more
ANNE C. GOLDBERG, MD, FNLA	Foundation Update As we approach the half year mark of 2016, we are reminded once again of the tremendous support surrounding the Foundation of the NLA and its mission to reduce cardiovascular events and deaths through patient and clinician education. To help reach our goals, the Foundation is constantly finding new ways to get its message out and maintain interest in our charitable organization. One way to support the Foundation is to shop the newly opened NLA store. All proceeds will be donated to... more