High cholesterol could be genetic: 95 cholesterol genes found

By Brandie Umar - Executive Director of Content | August 5th, 2010

High cholesterol is one of the leading causes of heart disease. Cholesterol levels are regularly linked to obesity and a sedentary lifestyle however scientists have now identified 95 genes that could signify whether a person is likely to develop high cholesterol regardless of their lifestyle and dietary habits.

During a conclusive study conducted on 100,000 people in 100 countries, 95 genome markers that play a part in cholesterol levels were identified. The identification of such a large number of cholesterol-related genes could help alter the way doctors treatcholesterol and heart disease and could lead the way for new advanced medications.

Cholesterol is strongly linked to the amount of fat in the blood. By becoming more knowledgeable about how genes affect lipins (blood fat), doctors are able to understand more clearly how heart disease develops and check if patients are predisposed to developing heart problems related to cholesterol. Early diagnosis of

heart disease is vital to prevent serious health complications.

As well as identifying genes which cause high cholesterol the research also identified a DNA sequence which lowers the risk of developing high cholesterol by raising the levels of low (LDL) cholesterol. When the levels of LDL cholesterol are above average, a persons risk of developing heart disease significantly decreases. The researchers hope that by analyzing the gene linked to low LDL levels they may be able to develop a preventative heart disease drug.

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