A new study offers important new insights into the protective role of HDL cholesterol (the “good” cholesterol) against cardiovascular disease. Earlier studies with drugs that increase HDL levels, including niacin and CETP inhibitors, have not shown benefit. The new study suggests that simply increasing HDL levels isn’t the way to go. Instead, cholesterol efflux, the ability of HDL to remove cholesterol from cells, part of the process called reverse cholesterol transport, appears to be the key. The results were presented today by Anand Rohatgi at the American Heart Association meeting in Chicago and published simultaneously in the New England Journal of Medicine.
The investigators followed 2,416 people participating in the Dallas Heart Study who were free of cardiovascular disease at the start for 9.4 years….
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Click here to read the full post on Forbes.
Hi Larry
Recall, in addition to the CSL mimetic, these data strongly recommend revisiting the ApoA1 Milano phenotype, which has very high efflux capacity (also at AHA this year with recombiinant Milano under development by MDCO). There we have a rather more curated genotype / phenotype in Limone sul Garda. Interesting to see this phenomenon borne out in larger populations as well!