Study Finds New Way To Clear Cholesterol From Blood

[Gahars]

If you've been reading up on your health journals, or listening in to all of those Honey Nut Cheerios commercials, you'll know that high amounts of cholesterol isn't all that good for you. It blocks up the bloodstream and can have a serious impact on your health.

Basically, mo' lesterol, mo' problems Oh god that doesn't sound right at all im so sorry forgive m

Naturally, finding ways to reduce it is something of a priority for scientists. And luckily, it seems scientists may have had something of a breakthrough in breaking through cholesterol.

Scientists led by Prof David Ginsburg of the University of Michigan’s Howard Hughes Medical Institute inhibited the action of a gene responsible for transporting a protein that interferes with the ability of the liver to remove cholesterol from the blood in mice. Trapping the destructive protein where it couldn’t harm receptors responsible for removing cholesterol preserved the liver cells’ capacity to clear plasma cholesterol from the blood, but did not appear to otherwise affect the health of the mice.

In the research, scientists found that mice with an inactive SEC24A gene could develop normally. However, their plasma cholesterol levels were reduced by 45 percent because vesicles from liver cells were not able to recruit and transport a critical regulator of blood cholesterol levels called proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9).

Sci-News

Finally, we're putting the "less" in "cho-less-terol". (OP's Note: Ignore the fact that it is spelled "cholesterol")

Now, there are a few caveats to consider here. This has only been tested in mice so far, and researchers involved with the project aren't sure it'll be any more effective treatment methods. Still, it's alternative, and further testing may prove it to be even more effective. Even if it isn't more effective, having multiple options can only be a plus.

So yeah, good news all the way. Congrats, scientists - you're on a choleste-roll.

 

[Hop2089]

It could lead to gene therapy drugs, beats Lipitor anyday or any statin, which have horrible and deadly side effects.

 

[Foxi4]

It could lead to gene therapy drugs (...)

Spoiler

So this is why...​

​

...they were always so slim​

If this kicks off, many people will be in Outer Heaven​

I'm sorry guys, I had to.

 

[chavosaur]

Brb gonna empty a salt shaker on my popcorn~

 

[Densetsu]

Brb gonna empty a salt shaker on my popcorn~

That's sodium, not cholesterol

 

[mysticwaterfall]

Interesting idea actually to attack the problem from a new angle, especially for people who have serious cholesterol that can't be managed right now.

I hate to burst hops bubble though as these would probably have the same "horrible and deadly" side effects as statins given where they would work (but presumably, less risk of rhabdomyolisis). Seriously, if I wanted to pick a deadly drug it wouldn't be a statin, it would be something that actually kills people regularly or something people think is harmless but actually hurts people everyday. You know what the most frequent non-intentional overdose is? Tylenol. It's caused more liver damage then every statin combined, yet is over the counter. In fact, its the leading cause of acute liver failure in the US. The same types of things can be said for numerous other drugs.

Now, I certainly don't think statins are right for everybody. But singleing them out is silly. Do statins have side effects? Yes. Are they bothersome in most people? No. Are they in some people? Yes. The same for any drug.

 

[chavosaur]

That's sodium, not cholesterol

This explains my failure in chemistry my sophomore year >.>
Sodium effects blood pressure right?

 

[the_randomizer]

This explains my failure in chemistry my sophomore year >.>
Sodium effects blood pressure right?

But is perfectly safe in controlled amounts (typically 1500 mg or less) and is an electrolyte. Taking excess amounts can lead to high blood pressure.

 

[IBNobody]

Re: Popcorn and salt.

It's the butter that you've got to watch.

 

[J-Machine]

I wonder if this discriminates against the bad cholesterol only

 

[mysticwaterfall]

I wonder if this discriminates against the bad cholesterol only

Reading the source article, it does seem to Target LDL (the bad one).