Health Discoveries in General Health News
Function of 'good' HDL cholesterol may matter more than rate
January 13, 2011
How well HDL ("good") cholesterol rids the body of excess cholesterol in the body may be more important than having a high HDL rate, according to researchers at the University of Pennsylvania.
When it functions best, HDL, or high-density lipoprotein, is able to remove excess cholesterol from cells called macrophages and prevent it from building up in the arterial walls where it can lead to heart disease.
By measuring the thickness of the carotid artery in about 200 healthy adults, indicating their arterial plaque and risk of heart disease, the researchers found that participants whose HDL was less able to remove cholesterol from the macrophages tended to have thicker carotid arteries and a greater risk of disease.
"The function of the HDL was an even better predictor of the thickness of the carotid wall than the HDL level itself," said Dr. Daniel Rader, director of Preventive Cardiology at the university.
The study has been published in the January issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
The North Shore-LIJ Health System participated with other institutions in a study that found the experimental thyroid drug Eprotirome reduces cholesterol without side effects common to statin drugs.
When it functions best, HDL, or high-density lipoprotein, is able to remove excess cholesterol from cells called macrophages and prevent it from building up in the arterial walls where it can lead to heart disease.
By measuring the thickness of the carotid artery in about 200 healthy adults, indicating their arterial plaque and risk of heart disease, the researchers found that participants whose HDL was less able to remove cholesterol from the macrophages tended to have thicker carotid arteries and a greater risk of disease.
"The function of the HDL was an even better predictor of the thickness of the carotid wall than the HDL level itself," said Dr. Daniel Rader, director of Preventive Cardiology at the university.
The study has been published in the January issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
The North Shore-LIJ Health System participated with other institutions in a study that found the experimental thyroid drug Eprotirome reduces cholesterol without side effects common to statin drugs.