Effects of genetics in heart disease risk | Ronald Krauss
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Genetic factors can impact plasma lipoprotein levels and the risk of coronary artery disease. Genes associated with elevated low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels have also been associated with increased heart disease risk, suggesting a causal relationship. However, a protective role of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol towards reducing heart disease has not been established. In this clip, Dr. Ronald Krauss describes why it may be more beneficial to reduce LDL levels than to raise HDL levels.
Dr. Krauss: There's also genetic arguments that have been made. Genes associated with high LDL are associated with heart disease risk. That's a very important pathologic connection because genes ultimately are the blueprint for our biology. And if the genes associated with high LDL are also associated with heart disease risk, it says that the LDL is really the causal agent. The genes associated with variation in HDL cholesterol have, almost in every case, not been associated with heart disease risk, and that is another argument that has sort of cast the HDL in a somewhat different light than LDL, certainly as a target for therapeutic intervention.
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