AN AYURVEDIC CASE REPORT ON DYSLIPIDAEMIA

Dyslipidaemia, a metabolic disorder characterized by derangements in serum lipid levels—such as elevated total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and triglycerides, or reduced high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). It is a major, modifiable risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. In India, the burden of dyslipidaemia has risen steadily over recent decades, mirroring rapid urbanisation, lifestyle transition, and increasing prevalence of obesity and metabolic syndrome. National and regional epidemiological surveys consistently report that a significant proportion of Indian adults exhibit at least one abnormal lipid parameter. Prevalence rates ranging between 60–80% in urban cohorts, with low HDL-C being the most common abnormality, underscore the magnitude of the problem.[1,2] Dietary transition towards refined carbohydrates, saturated fats and ultra-processed foods, coupled with declining fibre intake, has transformed traditional eating patterns. Rising rates of overweight, central adiposity, and insulin resistance particularly pronounced among South Asians even at lower body mass indices contribute to an atherogenic lipid profile characterised by high triglycerides and low HDL-C.[3] Sedentary lifestyles, widespread mechanisation, smoking, harmful alcohol consumption, and increasing comorbidities such as diabetes mellitus further compound the metabolic burden. Additionally, limited screening, low treatment initiation rates, and socio-economic disparities hamper early detection and effective management.