Cardiovascular disease (CVD), the overarching term used to
describe all diseases involving the blood vessels and the heart, is the
leading cause of death worldwide [1]. CVD is one of Australia's largest
health problems, claiming the lives of 43,946 Australians in 2012 (30%
of all deaths) [1] and costing $7.7 billion in health care expenditures in
2008–2009 [2]. This figure is expected to more than double by 2032–
2033 [3].
Elevated blood lipid levels are one of the major risk factors
contributing to the pathophysiology of CVD [4–6]. Hyperlipidaemia is
characterised by an array of modifiable abnormalities in blood lipid
profiles that include increased concentrations of triglycerides (TGs)