There is unequivocal evidence of an inverse association between plasma high-density
lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol concentrations and the risk of cardiovascular disease, a
finding that has led to the hypothesis that HDL protects from atherosclerosis. This review
details the experimental evidence for this" HDL hypothesis". In vitro studies suggest that
HDL has a wide range of anti-atherogenic properties but validation of these functions in
humans is absent to date. A significant number of animal studies and clinical trials support …