The present invention relates to the use of a tryptophan metabolite, 3-hydroxyanthranilic acid (3-HAA) or a functional analogue thereof, for prophylactic and/or therapeutic treatment of mammals, in special humans, against hyperlipidemia and its cardiovascular complications, i.e. atheroma formation, myocardial infarction and heart failure, ischemic stroke and transient ischemic attacks, renal impairment, aortic aneurysms and critical limb ischemia caused by atherosclerosis.
