Issuing from the present state of the influence of the basic nutritive substances (protein, fat, carbohydrates) and various nutritive factors discussed again and again (cholesterol, erucaic acid, sodium, calcium/magnesium quotient, pressor amines) on the development of the arteriosclerosis, the indididual factors of influence are critically evaluated. The investigations are getting under way, so that ascertained results are standing beside insufficiently claified or open problems, From the abundance of the observations conclusions are drawn which are of significance for practice. Unfavourable influences of nutrition on the factors of risk (hyperlipoproteinaemia, disturbance of the carbohydrate tolerance, hyperuricaemia, hyperalimentation) and on the manifest diseases (hypertension, diabetes mellitus, uric arthritis, obesity) of the metabolic syndrome which finally contribute to the development of arteriosclerosis are emphasized. In front of this background a clinically and ambulatorily tested basic metabolic diet is described. About 20% of the energy content (kcal or kJ) of this diet are protein, 35% fat and 45% are carbohydrates. The saturated fatty acids lie below 30%, the manifold saturated fatty acids, however, above 20% of the total fat proportion. The cholesterol content is below 400 mg, the purin-nitrogen below 200 mg, and the sodium content is about 2g per day. This diet can be produced for the treatment of persons with normal weight and overweight in different energetic degradations.