Dyslipidemia, defined as elevated triglyceride (TG), total- and LDL-C, and/or decreased HDL-C levels, is considered a principal risk factor for cardiovascular disease. The low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) family has been considered a key player in the prevention of dyslipidemia. The LDLR family consists of cytoplasmic membrane proteins and plays an important role not only in ligand–receptor binding and uptake, but also in various cell signaling pathways. Emerging reports state that various functional ingredients dynamically modulate the function of the LDLR family. For instance, oats stimulated the LDLR function in vivo, resulting in decreased body weight and improved serum lipid profiles. The stimulation of LRP6 by functional ingredients in vitro activated the Wnt/β-catenin pathway, subsequently suppressing the intracellular TG via inhibition of SREBP1, PPARγ, and C/EBPα. Furthermore, the extract of Cistanchetubulosa enhanced the expression of the mRNA of VLDLR, followed by a reduction in the serum cholesterol level. In addition, fermented soy milk diminished TG and total cholesterol levels while increasing HDL-C levels via activation of LRP1. To summarize, modulating the function of the LDLR family by diverse functional ingredients may be a potent therapeutic remedy for the treatment of dyslipidemia and cardiovascular diseases.

High fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is a liquid sweetener of glucose-fructose monomer mixture, commonly known as replacement for sucrose (table sugar). HFCS was first applied to food companies in the early 1970s ever since there was a huge increase of its use worldwide, especially in beverage and processed food. While the metabolic and nutritional characteristics of HFCS have been widely studied, only recently has the role of HFCS in metabolic syndrome and other health issues emerged. Studies in many laboratories worldwide have built the evidence that excessive consumption of HFCS plays a crucial role in insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, obesity, hypertension, and kidney disease. This manuscript reviews the history, manufacturing process, and nutritional and metabolic traits of HFCS and describes its involvement in the pathogenesis of metabolic syndromes and obesity.