Herman Award Lecture, 1992: lipid nutrition--a personal perspective.

In the 1950s excess dietary fat was thought to be a risk factor for development of atherosclerosis. Over the ensuing years we have examined and given advice concerning first, saturation and unsaturation, and later, specific fatty acids such as oleic and stearic acids. Current work is further refining the delineation of fatty acids that might be harmful. Eventually, we will probably again cite excess fat as the problem.