Other factors that adversely affect β - cell numbers and function include islet amyloid deposition (24), glucose toxicity (25), pancreatitis (8), and
certain dietary influences (26).
With these mouse models, the main
influence on atherosclerosis has been found to be
dietary cholesterol rather than the level of fat (42 - 44), but
certain threshold levels of
dietary cholesterol may exist at least within the context of a low - fat purified diet (45).