Gustavo A. Cardenas, MD, Carl J. Lavie, MD and Richard V. Milani, MD, Department of Cardiology, Ochsner Medical Institutions, New Orleans, LA, USA.

Substantial data from epidemologic, lipid intervention and serial coronary angiographic studies have established the importance of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) on cardiovascular risk. Low levels of HDL-C should be treated with non-pharmacologic therapy, including weight reduction and aerobic exercise training. Persistently low levels of HDL-C can be treated with niacin therapy, fibrates (especially if the triglyceride levels are elevated) and the statin family of medications. For every 1% increase in HDL-C, one would expect a greater than 3% reduction in vascular risk.
Key words: high-density lipoprotein, niacin, fibrates, statins, exercise.