In non-rodent animal models, such as hypercholesterolemic rabbits, L-arginine treatment inhibits atherosclerosis and improves NO-mediated vasodilatation in thoracic and abdominal aortae and iliac arteries by enhanced NO synthesis and eNOS expression (Jeremy et al., 1996; Hayashi et al., 2005) The increased levels of oxidized low-density LDL in dyslipidemia has cytotoxic potential and atherogenic properties, and may also attenuate NO activity. The gene discussed is NOS3; the disease is metabolic syndrome.