MONDAY, June 14, 2004 (HealthDayNews) -- Blocking the production of a key component of both high-density and low-density lipoproteins may offer a new way to reduce cholesterol and homocysteine levels, says a Canadian study.
Researchers created genetically altered mice that lacked either of the two different pathways through which mice, humans and other animals provide lipids for high-denisty lipoprotein (HDL) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL). The mice suffered no ill effects and had much lower than normal levels of cholesterol in their blood.
The alteration of one of the pathways in one group of mice also led to a 50 percent decrease of homocysteine in their blood.
The results suggest it may be possible to create drugs that block these pathways in humans to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, according to the study authors.
The research was presented June 13 at the annual meeting of the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology/8th International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Conference in Boston.
More information
The American Heart Association has more about cholesterol.
