Antoaneta Sawyer, PhD
Scientists have finally confirmed the long term debated causative role of elevated blood triglycerides and their pathways in obesity, metabolic syndrome and heart disease risk of appearance. (Source, Wiki) Recent study proved that an inheritance of a specific mutated gene-apolipoprotein A5 (ApoA5) has major role in provoking the phenomena "hypertriglyceridemia"- or elevated triglycerides in blood what may be the main cause-reason (pathogenesis) link behind heart disease. (Source, MedlinePLus)
Triglycerides are produced in the liver and absorbed from our diet. Representing the main form of fat in blood, triglycerides are major source of vital energy, organ protection and insulation. They are also required in helping the human body to metabolize proteins and carbohydrates more efficiently. Despite their obvious benefits, too much of them in blood circulation can cause major health problems, such as obesity, metabolic syndrome and heart disease.
The new genetic evidence linked high concentrations of blood fat (hypertriglyceridemia) with increased heart risk for people inheriting the specific gene from their ancestors (parents and grandparents). The long time debated genetic link was almost rejected by the modern (functional) medicine, and placed as secondary by the conventional one.
The team of researchers used completely new genetic approach known as "Mendelian randomization analysis" collecting data on 302,430 people and 101 studies. The scientists looked at mutations in the apolipoproteins A5 gene (ApoA5) an already well known determinant for elevated triglycerides in blood. (Source, Wiki)
The study, published in the May 8 issue of The Lancet (2010) revised the previous way of thinking that cholesterol is the key target to heart disease prevention, directing the link towards elevated levels of triglycerides due to inheritance. Familial hypertriglyceridemia has been already associated with the increased risk of heart disease, being an integral component of abdominal obesity, dyslipidemia, and insulin resistance- all features of the metabolic syndrome cluster. (Source, Redorbit.com)
Dr. Lee (assistant professor of cardiology at the UCSF) stated, "Traditionally, clinicians have focused only on getting our patients' LDL down while elevating their HDL up, because we thought that these were the major players in heart disease. However, this study indicates that we need to now worry about high triglyceride blood levels as well."
Prof. Fonarow (director of the Ahmanson-UCLA Cardiomyopathy Center) agreed that "Elevated LDL cholesterol has been definitively established as a major modifiable cardiovascular risk factor but there is also a strong evidence that low levels of HDL identify individuals at increased risk for cardiovascular events."
The final results of this study proved that every copy of the genetic ApoA5 variant, leads to at least 16 percent increase in blood triglyceride levels, and when two gene-copies are inherited-- the triglyceride concentrations increase geometrically to 32 percent, leading to a 40 percent heart disease risk. Sarwar, lead author of this study claimed, "Despite several decades of research, it has remained uncertain whether raised levels of triglyceride can cause heart disease."
The study established a new postulate that by reducing triglyceride concentration in blood it may help reducing the risk of a future heart attack. It is obvious that by knowing the right fats to consume can help reduce overall cholesterol levels and help us to maintain a healthy body. In authors' proper words, "We found that people with a genetically programmed tendency for higher triglyceride levels also had a greater risk of heart disease. This study suggests that triglyceride pathways may be involved in the development of heart disease."
Photo credit: Flickr
Reference:
Nadeem Sarwar, Ph.D., lecturer in cardiovascular epidemiology, University of Cambridge, England; Gregg C. Fonarow, M.D., professor, medicine, and director, Ahmanson-UCLA Cardiomyopathy Center, University of California, Los Angeles; Byron Lee, M.D., assistant professor, cardiology, University of California, San Francisco. Genes Tie Blood Fat to Heart Disease, The Lancet (May 8, 2010)
Triglycerides are produced in the liver and absorbed from our diet. Representing the main form of fat in blood, triglycerides are major source of vital energy, organ protection and insulation. They are also required in helping the human body to metabolize proteins and carbohydrates more efficiently. Despite their obvious benefits, too much of them in blood circulation can cause major health problems, such as obesity, metabolic syndrome and heart disease.
The new genetic evidence linked high concentrations of blood fat (hypertriglyceridemia) with increased heart risk for people inheriting the specific gene from their ancestors (parents and grandparents). The long time debated genetic link was almost rejected by the modern (functional) medicine, and placed as secondary by the conventional one.
The team of researchers used completely new genetic approach known as "Mendelian randomization analysis" collecting data on 302,430 people and 101 studies. The scientists looked at mutations in the apolipoproteins A5 gene (ApoA5) an already well known determinant for elevated triglycerides in blood. (Source, Wiki)
The study, published in the May 8 issue of The Lancet (2010) revised the previous way of thinking that cholesterol is the key target to heart disease prevention, directing the link towards elevated levels of triglycerides due to inheritance. Familial hypertriglyceridemia has been already associated with the increased risk of heart disease, being an integral component of abdominal obesity, dyslipidemia, and insulin resistance- all features of the metabolic syndrome cluster. (Source, Redorbit.com)
Dr. Lee (assistant professor of cardiology at the UCSF) stated, "Traditionally, clinicians have focused only on getting our patients' LDL down while elevating their HDL up, because we thought that these were the major players in heart disease. However, this study indicates that we need to now worry about high triglyceride blood levels as well."
Prof. Fonarow (director of the Ahmanson-UCLA Cardiomyopathy Center) agreed that "Elevated LDL cholesterol has been definitively established as a major modifiable cardiovascular risk factor but there is also a strong evidence that low levels of HDL identify individuals at increased risk for cardiovascular events."
The final results of this study proved that every copy of the genetic ApoA5 variant, leads to at least 16 percent increase in blood triglyceride levels, and when two gene-copies are inherited-- the triglyceride concentrations increase geometrically to 32 percent, leading to a 40 percent heart disease risk. Sarwar, lead author of this study claimed, "Despite several decades of research, it has remained uncertain whether raised levels of triglyceride can cause heart disease."
The study established a new postulate that by reducing triglyceride concentration in blood it may help reducing the risk of a future heart attack. It is obvious that by knowing the right fats to consume can help reduce overall cholesterol levels and help us to maintain a healthy body. In authors' proper words, "We found that people with a genetically programmed tendency for higher triglyceride levels also had a greater risk of heart disease. This study suggests that triglyceride pathways may be involved in the development of heart disease."
Photo credit: Flickr
Reference:
Nadeem Sarwar, Ph.D., lecturer in cardiovascular epidemiology, University of Cambridge, England; Gregg C. Fonarow, M.D., professor, medicine, and director, Ahmanson-UCLA Cardiomyopathy Center, University of California, Los Angeles; Byron Lee, M.D., assistant professor, cardiology, University of California, San Francisco. Genes Tie Blood Fat to Heart Disease, The Lancet (May 8, 2010)
Courtesy of youtube
No comments:
Post a Comment