Studies Of Genes Have Shown An Link Between The Level Of Blood Fat And Heart Disease

Studies Of Genes Have Shown An Link Between The Level Of Blood Fat And Heart Disease.
Scientists have hunger debated the task triglyceride levels might carouse in heart disease, and finally they have genetic evidence linking high-class concentrations of the blood fat to an increased risk of heart trouble. Until now, cholesterol levels were the opener targets of heart disease prevention efforts, but experts require a new report in the May 8 issue of The Lancet may revise that thinking.

Triglycerides, a vital source of human energy, are produced by the liver or derived from foods. "Despite several decades of research, it has remained indecisive whether raised levels of triglyceride can cause heart disease," said lead researcher Nadeem Sarwar, a lecturer in cardiovascular epidemiology at the University of Cambridge in England. "We found that family with a genetically programmed proneness for higher triglyceride levels also had a greater risk of heart disease".

So "This suggests that triglyceride pathways may be interested in the development of heart disease". To examine a genetic link between triglycerides and heart disease, Sarwar's team collected data on 302430 forebears who participated in 101 studies. "We employed novel genetic approaches - ostensible 'Mendelian randomization analysis,'" he said.

Specifically, the researchers looked at mutations in the apolipoprotein A5 gene, a known determinant of triglyceride concentrations. They found that for every copy of the variant, there was a 16 percent rise in triglyceride concentrations, so two copies increased triglyceride levels 32 percent. People with two such variants had a 40 percent increased chance of developing bravery disease, the researchers calculated.

Although these genetic findings manifest a causative role for triglyceride pathways in the development of resolution disease, they do not replace the need for large randomized clinical trials of medications that lower blood triglyceride levels. uch trials should aid establish whether reducing triglyceride concentration can mark down the risk of heart disease. "There are several medications currently available or under development that can influence blood triglyceride levels". Drug maker Novartis, the British Heart Foundation and the UK Medical Research Council funded the study.

Dr Gregg C Fonarow, a professor of cardiovascular medication and chairman of the Ahmanson-UCLA Cardiomyopathy Center at the University of California, Los Angeles, also said more investigation is needed. "Elevated LDL cholesterol has been definitively established as a biggest modifiable cardiovascular jeopardize factor. There is also strong evidence that low levels of HDL identify individuals at increased jeopardy for cardiovascular events. However, the independent role that elevated triglyceride levels place in cardiovascular risk has been more difficult to establish and controversial".

This study suggests a modest independent connection between triglycerides and coronary heart disease. "Despite these findings it still remains to be demonstrated whether lowering triglyceride levels in patients with - or at endanger for - cardiovascular disease will in and of itself reduce the risk of cardiovascular events and if so by how much".

Another expert, Dr Byron Lee, an auxiliary professor of cardiology at the University of California, San Francisco, suggested the work could alter the guidelines for heart prevention. "Traditionally, clinicians have focused only on getting our patients' LDL down and our HDL up because we ruminating that these were the major players in heart disease favstore.gdn. However, this lucubrate indicates that we need to now worry about high triglyceride levels as well".