Hoffmann et al. [150] demonstrated that leptin administration within the sub-physiological (0.1 and 0.5 mg/kg body weight/day) to physiological (3.0 mg/kg body weight/day) range diminished atherosclerotic disease and suggested that leptin’s anti-atherogenic effects may indirectly be through the reduction of hypercholesterolemia and liver steatosis and the up-regulation of insulin-sensitizing and athero-protective adiponectin. This evidence concerns the gene LEP and familial hypercholesterolemia.