Good Cholesterol may not be so Good

Reported August 23, 2007

(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Too much of a good thing can be bad. High-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol is known for its ability to protect against heart disease. But new research reveals some components in the so-called good cholesterol can have a destructive effect on the body.

Researchers from the University of Washington School of Medicine in Seattle report they found 48 proteins in HDL, including 13 proteins not previously known to exist in HDL. Some of the proteins discovered do help prevent heart disease. Some help prevent atherosclerotic plaques from rupturing and causing a heart attack, and others protect heart cells from being injured during a heart attack. However, some of the other proteins discovered actually inhibit some of the heart protective effects of HDL and promote cholesterol build up.

This may explain why an experimental HDL-boosting drug actually increased deaths and heart problems, study authors write. They concluded a better understanding of the protein components of HDL is needed so newer and more accurate tests for predicting or evaluating heart disease can be developed.

"There's still a lot we don't know about heart disease," study leader Jay Heinecke, M.D., was quoted as saying. "HDL is still a big mystery, but we're closing in on it, and we're pretty excited."

SOURCE: American Chemical Society 234th National Meeting & Exposition in Boston, Aug. 19-23, 2007