SLC22A1 and metabolic syndrome: In particular, the Oct1-/- mice, and humans with reduced-function polymorphisms of OCT1 (S3 Table) [37], have increased levels of small dense LDL particles (Fig 6G), which in humans are predictive of increased risk of cardiovascular disease [66] and are a characteristic feature of the dyslipidemia associated with excess adiposity [67] and insulin resistance [68].