On Fri, 3 Aug 2001, Paul Sand wrote: > I've read that atherosclerosis is common among old elephants (pure > vegetarians). Elephants also, from what I have read, often live long lives. Atherosclerosis typically appears in the latter part of an animal's life span. One thing that Ravnskov said seemed contradictory. Seals and sea lions get atherosclerosis. Predators such as lions and wolves do not. Both are carnivores, however, unless seals and sea lions also eat kelp or some other marine vegetation. I thought they just ate fish. It's rather difficult to explain why predators should be free of atherosclerosis. As Ravnskov points out, this should have stimulated a wave of research. It didn't, because scientists were convinced they are already knew what causes it, in humans at least. Atherosclerosis, however, is not strongly correlated with heart disease, so perhaps the point is academic. Todd Moody [log in to unmask]