Diet and atherosclerosis in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice

Atherosclerosis is a multifactorial, long-lasting process in humans. Accordingly, animal models in which more rapid changes occur can be useful for the study of this process. Among such models are apolipoprotein E-deficient (apoE-/-) mice, which give insight into the human process. ApoE-/- mice show impaired clearing of plasma lipoproteins and develop atherosclerosis in a short time, and hence they are an excellent model in which to assess the impact of dietary factors. This review considers lipid metabolism and inflammation as well as nutritional constituents affecting atherosclerosis, with reference to apoE-/- mice, and discusses the mechanisms through which they act.