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High Blood Cholesterol ResearchThe following research focuses on new approaches to prevent and treat high cholesterol and its complications: Alternative treatmentSeveral research studies are investigating the cholesterol-lowering effects of cinnamon, cassia bark, and plant sterol supplements.
CafestolCafestol is a compound found in coffee. Studies indicate that cafestol may raise cholesterol levels by interfering with its regulation in the body. Cafestol can be removed from coffee by using paper coffee filters during the brewing process. Early statin treatmentResearch indicates that treatment with a statin drug after a person is hospitalized with a heart attack can reduce: - Long-term mortality.
- The risk of further heart events, such as a second heart attack or heart failure.
Familial hypercholesterolemiaPeople only need to inherit a single mutated gene from one parent to develop familial hypercholesterolemia (high blood cholesterol) and they have a 50% chance of passing the mutated gene to each of their children. People who inherit two mutated genes from both of their parents develop a more severe form of familial hypercholesterolemia and all of their children will inherit one copy of the mutated gene. Several research studies are investigating which genes cause familial hypercholesterolemia. Several genes have been identified. Cholesterol genesAn international study identified seven new cholesterol-regulating genes, some of which influence a person's risk of heart disease. The study also confirmed the influence of 11 previously identified cholesterol-related genes on a person's risk of heart disease. It appears that only the genetic changes that raise LDL cholesterol ("bad" cholesterol) levels influence the risk of heart disease.Triglycerides and strokeA recent study of people with ischemic stroke indicates that high blood levels of triglycerides increase a person's risk of stroke. People with the highest levels of triglycerides were more than twice as likely to suffer a stroke. The study results suggest that triglycerides might be more important than LDL cholesterol in lowering a person's stroke risk.
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