1. Introduction
Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of global
mortality, accounting for almost 17 million deaths annually
(Smith et al., 2004); atherosclerosis, in particular, is
the main contributor for the pathogenesis of myocardial
and cerebral infarction. Elevated levels of plasma low-density
lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL) and triglycerides,
accompanied by reduced high-density lipoprotein (HDL)
levels, is often associated with an increased risk of coronary
heart disease (Smith et al., 2004).