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- Ruth Friedman,
Founder and President
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"Good" cholesterol may not actually be healthy

05/17/2012

Many people have heard that "good" cholesterol (HDL) can help to reduce the risk of heart disease. High-density lipoproteins (HDL) act as "cholesterol scavengers, picking up excess cholesterol in the blood and taking it back to the liver where it's broken down," according to the Mayo Clinic. However, a recent study has found that good cholesterol may actually not have the benefits many previously believed.

The study conducted by researchers from Massachusetts General Hospital, M.I.T. and Harvard University, looked to test HDL levels to see if they reduced a person's chance of developing heart disease.

In the study, scientists first looked at 116,000 people and checked if they had a gene variant that naturally raised their HDL levels. They then reviewed participants with the variant to see if they had reduced heart disease risk.  Researchers also checked 14 other gene variants that affect HDL levels to check for a relationship using genetic data on 53,500 people. From the data, researchers found that there is no "association between having the variants that increased HDL levels and risk of heart disease."

This new information may cause researchers to rethink "good" cholesterol and might also help them come up with better treatment options for reducing heart disease risks down the line. Those with caregiving obligations to a senior loved one might want to keep an elder safe now by keeping them on a low-sodium diet and getting them to exercise.