News about cholesterol

The following article appears in Medline Plus:

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C., Apr 08, 2005 (United Press International via COMTEX) -- The liver may produce most of the body's good cholesterol, researchers at Wake Forest University in North Carolina reported Friday.

The study, which used gene-targeting in mice to simulate the rare Tangier disease in people, is published in the May issue of the Journal of Clinical Investigation. People with Tangier disease produce virtually no high-density lipoprotein, the HDL or good cholesterol.

The study found the liver is the source for about 80 percent of HDL that circulates in the blood. Aside from Tangier disease, low levels of HDL are associated with a higher risk of heart attacks, even when total cholesterol levels are normal.

Until now, scientists had thought HDL formation occurred throughout the body. They do know some of it is manufactured in the walls of blood vessels, for example.

Parks said the finding could be important in drug development for a number of diseases.

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To see the original, go to http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_24003.html. Maybe now doctors might respect the liver more, and modify lipitor and similar drugs.