Pathways of lipoprotein metabolism. Dietary carbohydrate increases hepatic TG that drives the secretion of very-low-density lipoproteins (VLDLs) that are larger and triglyceride (TG) enriched. These particles are rapidly lipolysed by lipoprotein lipase (LPL) to remnant lipoproteins that are then catabolized by hepatic lipase (HL) to small, dense low-density lipoprotein (LDL) particles that are less efficiently cleared from plasma, likely due to reduced LDL receptor affinity. Dietary saturated fat has been shown to preferentially increase plasma concentrations of larger LDL particles, likely by reducing their plasma clearance through suppression of LDL receptor activity, although increased hepatic secretion of their precursors may also play a role. Abbreviation: CETP, cholesteryl ester transfer protein.