Cholesterol News and Research

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Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance made in the liver, and found in the blood and in all cells of the body. Cholesterol is important for good health and is needed for making cell walls, tissues, hormones, vitamin D, and bile acid.

Algae may help meet future protein demand without straining the planet

This narrative review evaluates clinical evidence on algae and algal proteins as sustainable, nutrient-dense food sources with high protein quality and bioactive compounds. Findings suggest potential benefits for muscle protein synthesis, cardiometabolic markers, immune modulation, and antioxidant status, while emphasizing heterogeneity, short-term data, and the need for longer clinical trials.

20 Jan 2026

Genomic screening uncovers hidden cancer and heart disease risk in young adults

A nationwide Australian pilot screened more than 10,000 adults aged 18–40 years for high-risk genetic variants linked to hereditary cancer and familial hypercholesterolaemia, identifying clinically actionable findings in about 2% of participants.

19 Jan 2026

Adding lean pork to a plant-forward diet supports healthy aging biomarkers

A randomized crossover feeding trial in adults aged 65 years or older found that plant-forward diets incorporating either minimally processed lean pork or lentils produced similar short-term improvements in cardiometabolic and neuroactive biomarkers. Both diets supported metabolic health and functional stability, with no overall adverse biomarker effects attributable to including minimally processed red meat within a Dietary Guidelines–aligned pattern.

19 Jan 2026

Research suggests bamboo-based foods could support metabolic health

This systematic review synthesizes human, in vitro, and food-processing studies on bamboo consumption, finding limited but suggestive evidence for metabolic, digestive, and antioxidant benefits when products are properly prepared. It also highlights safety considerations, including potential goitrogenic effects from inadequately processed shoots, and calls for higher-quality human trials.

18 Jan 2026

Researchers discover how Mycoplasma pneumoniae acquires cholesterol from human hosts

A multidisciplinary team has uncovered a key mechanism that allows the human bacterium Mycoplasma pneumoniae-responsible for atypical pneumonia and other respiratory infections-to obtain cholesterol and other essential lipids directly from the human body.

16 Jan 2026

Father's early behavior linked to child's heart and metabolic health years later

How a new father behaves toward his baby can change family dynamics in a way that affects the child's heart and metabolic health years later, according to a new study by researchers in the Penn State College of Health and Human Development.

16 Jan 2026

New oral drug safely lowers triglycerides and other blood lipids in Phase 1 trial

In a Phase 1 clinical study, researchers led by EPFL and their partners report that a new liver- and gut-targeted oral drug can safely lower triglycerides and other blood lipids.

16 Jan 2026

Screen time may increase body fat in children

A study links excessive screen time in children to higher body fat and poor metabolic health, highlighting cardiorespiratory fitness as a protective factor.

15 Jan 2026

Preclinical study reveals potential new treatment for severe liver fibrosis

Researchers at McMaster University are leading preclinical studies into a novel drug candidate developed by Espervita Therapeutics that has the potential to prevent and reverse liver fibrosis - a dangerous, disease-induced build-up of scar tissue in the liver that often leads to cancer.

13 Jan 2026

Most patients regain lost weight within two years of stopping obesity drugs

Weight management medications show limited long-term effects, with rapid weight regain post-treatment, emphasizing the need for sustainable obesity strategies.

13 Jan 2026

Why some people can’t lose weight even when they follow the rules

New research reveals biological factors, not just effort, influence weight loss success, highlighting the need for personalized diet and exercise interventions.

13 Jan 2026

APOE gene: A major driver in Alzheimer's disease

Potentially more than 90% of Alzheimer's disease cases would not occur without the contribution of a single gene (APOE), according to a new analysis led by UCL researchers.

9 Jan 2026

Cardiovascular risk scores predict future development of serious eye diseases

A new study from UCLA Health shows that a cardiovascular risk score already used routinely in primary care can predict who will develop serious eye diseases years later.

7 Jan 2026

Stopping weight loss drugs leads to rapid weight regain and health reversal

Stopping weight loss drugs is followed by weight regain and reversal of beneficial effects on heart and metabolic health markers such as high cholesterol and high blood pressure, finds a study published by The BMJ today.

7 Jan 2026

Gut-microbe-derived molecules may play a key role in shaping the developing immune system

An international research team has uncovered compelling evidence that gut-microbe-derived molecules may play an important role in shaping the developing immune system during early childhood.

7 Jan 2026

Pitavastatin shows pomise in overcoming chemotherapy resistance in triple-negative breast cancer

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is among the most aggressive types of breast cancer, lacking estrogen, progesterone, and HER2 receptors and thus relying primarily on cytotoxic chemotherapy.

7 Jan 2026

Light daily movement linked to lower mortality risk in people with CKM syndrome

Light intensity activities, like walking or household chores, were linked to a lower risk of death for people with cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CKM) syndrome, according to new research published today in the Journal of the American Heart Association, an open access, peer-reviewed journal of the American Heart Association.

7 Jan 2026

Can ketogenic diets help PCOS? New analysis points to weight and insulin gains

A systematic review and meta-analysis of 15 studies found that ketogenic diets were associated with short-term reductions in body weight, waist circumference, insulin resistance, and some reproductive hormones in women with polycystic ovary syndrome, primarily among those with overweight or obesity. However, substantial heterogeneity, low certainty of evidence, limited safety reporting, and short follow-up periods mean the clinical effectiveness and long-term sustainability of ketogenic diets in PCOS remain uncertain.

5 Jan 2026

Common blood signals explain why chronic diseases cluster as we age

This population-based study shows that shared and pattern-specific blood biomarkers reflect biological vulnerability underlying multimorbidity and the pace at which chronic diseases accumulate in older adults. Metabolic and systemic stress markers such as GDF15, HbA1c, cystatin C, and insulin consistently tracked higher disease burden and faster accumulation, with findings replicated across cohorts.

5 Jan 2026

Immune cell energy metabolism shapes the progression of atherosclerosis

Two complementary studies reveal how an insufficient supply of energy in macrophages, key immune cells in artery walls, drives the progression of atherosclerosis - and how this knowledge could lead to better diagnostics and future therapies.

30 Dec 2025