Dyslipidaemia refers to the abnormal metabolism of lipids, as measured in the blood. Triglycerides (triacylglycerol) and total cholesterol (free and esterified cholesterol) are commonly implicated in hyperlipidaemias. These lipids are transported together with proteins as lipoproteins, which are named according to their ultracentrifugal properties: very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and chylomicrons. Dyslipoproteinaemia refers to abnormalities of the lipoproteins. Understanding metabolism at a molecular level has made it possible to better define dyslipidaemias, their prevalences and phenotypes as recently described in the South African context.