Serum lipids during starvation in obesity.

The HDL-cholesterol level was found to decrease during the first week of therapeutic starvation in hyperlipoproteinaemic (hypertriglyceridaemic), diabetic (non-insulin dependent) patients. The possible causes of the finding are discussed, and the view is expressed that the fall in HDL given no cause for discontinuing the caloric restriction or starvation as the therapeutic measures in obesity.