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Ldl

All articles tagged with #ldl

health3 days ago

New US Guidelines Expand Statin Eligibility to 87.5 Million Adults

The American Heart Association has updated its cholesterol guidelines, expanding the age range for cardiovascular risk assessment from 40-75 to 30-79. This change now qualifies approximately 87.5 million Americans, or more than half of adults in that age bracket, for potential statin treatment. The update includes a 21.5 million increase in eligible patients since the 2018 guidelines. While statins effectively lower 'bad' LDL cholesterol by 30-50%, experts emphasize that medication is not a substitute for lifestyle changes. The new framework aims to identify risk earlier, potentially preventing arterial plaque formation before it becomes irreversible, though long-term data on starting medication in one's 30s remains limited.

via The Telegraph|

#american-heart-association #cardiovascular-health #cholesterol

health1 month ago•56 min saved

Daily Avocado Habit Linked to Lower LDL, New Study Finds

A six-month Habitual Diet and Avocado Trial with 786 adults found that adding one avocado per day to the diet lowered LDL cholesterol by about 49 nmol/L and could translate to roughly a 4% lower risk of heart disease, a modest but meaningful improvement. Avocados provide monounsaturated fats, phytosterols, and fiber, which help explain the benefit, especially when replacing foods high in saturated fat. Experts say avocado is not a magic bullet and emphasize a broader heart-healthy lifestyle—plenty of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, regular exercise, and medications when prescribed. The study was funded by the Avocado Nutrition Center, but researchers say the sponsor did not influence the study design or interpretation.

via AOL.com|

#avocado #cholesterol #diet

health1 month ago•4 min saved

Five Burgers a Week Yield Surprising LDL Drop, Study Finds

A Nutrients study followed 23 men who ate five burgers per week for five weeks. Those who consumed high-fat beef (≈25% fat) showed reductions in LDL cholesterol and blood pressure and improved flow-mediated dilation (blood vessel function), while low-fat beef did not improve vessel function. Interestingly, both burger types lowered HDL (“good”) cholesterol, challenging the idea that saturated fat from red meat always harms heart health.

via New York Post|

#blood-pressure #burgers #cholesterol

health1 month ago•5 min saved

New US Guidelines Push Early Lipid Control to Fight Heart Disease

US cardiologists updated the 2018 cholesterol guidelines, emphasizing earlier treatment of dyslipidemia to cut lifetime ASCVD risk. Key changes include screening starting in childhood (as young as 9–11, potentially earlier with family history), a new PREVENT risk calculator to personalize 10-year and 30-year cardiovascular risk, LDL targets of <100 mg/dL for borderline/intermediate risk, <70 mg/dL for high risk, and <55 mg/dL for very high risk, and a broader use of therapies (statins and other lipid-lowering drugs) alongside lifestyle changes to reduce long-term heart attack and stroke risk.

via ScienceAlert|

#ascvd #cholesterol #dyslipidemia

health2 months ago•5 min saved

New Lipid Drugs and Updated Guidelines Expand Statin Eligibility, Redefining Cholesterol Care

Inclisiran lowers LDL by about 49% versus placebo in a meta-analysis and is a twice-yearly option that can be used with or without statins; Lipfendra (enlicitide), the first oral PCSK9 inhibitor, lowered LDL by roughly 56–59% in trials; combined with updated U.S. cholesterol guidelines that may make over half of adults eligible for statin therapy, these developments indicate a shift toward broader, personalized cholesterol management and adherence-friendly therapies.

via Healthline|

#cholesterol-guidelines #health #inclisiran

health2 months ago•5 min saved

New Cholesterol Rules Tighten Targets and Start Early Prevention

Updated guidelines emphasize that the duration of LDL exposure and overall cardiovascular risk drive prevention, prompting earlier statin use and personalized LDL targets (below 55 mg/dL for very high risk, 70 mg/dL for high risk, up to 100 mg/dL for intermediate). The PREVENT calculator informs treatment intensity, and Lp(a) testing is now recommended once in adulthood. Start cholesterol screening in ages 9–11 and repeat every five years from 19. Statins are generally safe; muscle-related side effects are rare, and if one statin isn’t tolerated, another can often be tried.

via Men's Health|

#cardiovascular-risk #cholesterol #health

cholesterol-heart-disease-cardiovascular-cardiology2 months ago•33 min saved

2026 Cholesterol Guidelines Tighten LDL Targets and Expand Screening

The 2026 ACC/AHA Dyslipidemia Guideline updates risk assessment with a new PREVENT calculator, reintroduces explicit LDL-C targets (including very low goals for high-risk individuals), and adds universal lipoprotein(a) screening and calcium scoring for intermediate risk. About 1 in 3 Americans without heart disease have LDL above the new goals, and nearly 4 in 5 with a prior cardiovascular event do. Treatment is now driven by overall cardiovascular risk rather than a single LDL number, with options spanning statins to non-statin therapies (ezetimibe, PCSK9 inhibitors, Inclisiran) and the new Lipfrenda, while supplements generally don’t replace proven therapies. The guidelines also flag undertreatment and racial disparities in statin use and emphasize early, personalized risk-based decisions.

via Medical News Today|

#cardiovascular #cholesterol #cholesterol-heart-disease-cardiovascular-cardiology

health2 months ago•2 min saved

FDA approves first oral PCSK9 inhibitor to lower LDL cholesterol

The US FDA approved Lipfendra, the world’s first oral PCSK9 inhibitor, for adults with high cholesterol including heterozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia, offering an injectable-free option. In trials, it reduced LDL cholesterol by about 56–59% over 24 weeks in patients on maximally tolerated statins, with effectiveness comparable to injectable PCSK9 inhibitors. It is unlikely to be a first-line therapy, and it won’t be available in India immediately, as CDSCO clearance (and possibly local trials) would be required. Doctors say it could help patients who prefer oral treatment or struggle with injections.

via The Times of India|

#familial-hypercholesterolemia #fda-approval #health

health2 months ago•4 min saved

LDL Target Gap: Most Americans Miss 2026 Cholesterol Goals

Under the 2026 ACC/AHA cholesterol guidelines, LDL targets are lower based on cardiovascular risk. A Mass General Brigham study analyzing NHANES 2021–2023 data finds about one-third of U.S. adults without prior CVD have LDL above the target, and roughly 76% of them aren’t on cholesterol-lowering meds. Among those with established cardiovascular disease, nearly 80% exceed the goal, with many already on therapy but not at target, highlighting the need to start treatment in primary prevention and intensify therapy in secondary prevention.

via Harvard Gazette|

#cardiovascular-disease #cholesterol #guidelines

health2 months ago•5 min saved

FDA approves first oral PCSK9 inhibitor to slash LDL cholesterol

The FDA approved Lipfendra (enlicitide), the first oral PCSK9 inhibitor, to be used with diet and existing LDL-lowering therapies in adults with high cholesterol, including inherited forms. In phase 3 trials, Lipfendra reduced LDL cholesterol by about 56%–60% when added to statin therapy, roughly doubling the impact of many statin regimens. The pill offers a convenient alternative to injectable PCSK9 inhibitors and was generally well tolerated, with diarrhea and dizziness as common side effects and similar discontinuation rates to placebo. Merck noted that large cardiovascular-outcome data are still pending, with results expected in 2029.

via Fox News|

#cholesterol #fda-approval #health

health-and-wellness2 months ago•7 min saved

LDL Unpacked: Simple Steps to Lower Bad Cholesterol and Cut Heart Risk

LDL cholesterol is the “bad” type that can quietly build arterial plaque and raise the risk of heart attack or stroke. Testing is essential since many people don’t know their level; optimal LDL is 100 mg/dL or lower. Genetics and aging influence levels, but lifestyle matters too: limit saturated fats, eat a plant-forward, high-fiber diet, avoid tobacco, exercise at least 150 minutes per week, and manage stress and sleep. If lifestyle changes aren’t enough or you have high risk, a doctor may prescribe statins or other medications that can markedly lower LDL.

via gq.com|

#cholesterol #diet #health-and-wellness

health3 months ago•11 min saved

ApoB testing could redefine cholesterol screening, surpassing LDL in predicting heart risk

A new JAMA study finds measuring apolipoprotein B (apoB) in cholesterol screening may more accurately identify who needs treatment to prevent heart attacks and strokes than LDL or non-HDL cholesterol. The findings align with updated guidelines that emphasize additional tests, like Lp(a), for assessing risk, and suggest apoB can reveal cardiovascular risk even when LDL appears normal.

via USA Today|

#apob #health #heart-disease

health3 months ago•6 min saved

ApoB Testing Could Sharpen Cholesterol Therapy Decisions

A Northwestern Medicine study in JAMA finds that apoB testing, which counts harmful cholesterol particles, better guides the decision to intensify cholesterol-lowering therapy than LDL or non-HDL testing, potentially preventing more heart attacks and strokes while remaining cost-effective for U.S. healthcare, based on a computer model comparing three strategies in 250,000 adults.

via ScienceDaily|

#apob #cardiovascular-disease #cost-effectiveness

health-and-medicine3 months ago•11 min saved

New Cholesterol-Lowering Pathway Uncovered, Points to CTSA-Targeted Therapy

Researchers identify a new pathway where high dietary cholesterol activates the Ral protein, reducing liver LDL receptors and hindering clearance of LDL cholesterol. Blocking the enzyme cathepsin A (CTSA) with a small-molecule inhibitor stabilized LDL receptors and dramatically lowered blood cholesterol in mouse models, suggesting a novel, statin-independent approach and a potential CTSA-targeted treatment that could move to clinical trials, leveraging an existing CTSA inhibitor with prior human safety data.

via Labroots|

#cholesterol #ctsa #drug-discovery

health4 months ago•2 min saved

Global LDL Cholesterol Map: Korea Lowest, Austria/Germany Highest, with Asian Rise

A global study of 460 million lipid tests across 17 countries finds South Korea has the lowest LDL ('bad') cholesterol, while Austria and Germany have the highest, with Japan, Australia and Switzerland just below high levels; Turkey and the United States also show below-average levels. Diets rich in fermented foods and legumes and low saturated fat may explain Korea's low levels, while higher animal fats and dairy contribute to higher levels elsewhere; genetics (including familial hypercholesterolemia) also plays a role. Over 1980–2018, cholesterol declined in high-income Western nations due to diet changes and statin use, while many low- and middle-income countries saw increases, especially in Asia; men tend to have higher cholesterol than women.

via BBC Science Focus Magazine|

#cholesterol #diet #global-health