Abstract
Atherosclerosis is the Number One public health problem. Many factors have been implicated in the pathogenesis of this disease. Prominent among these factors is the amount and kind of fat in the diet. The evidence now appears to be conclusive that sufficient quantities of polyunsaturated fat in the diet, with proportional decrease in saturated fat, will result in major decrease in blood lipid. Some evidence indicates that such blood lipid lowering produces a desirable effect upon existing atherosclerosis. Much additional time and work will be required to clarify the prophylactic and therapeutic value of this type of dietary approach.