Cholesterol News and Research

RSS

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.

Discovery of fat-regulating enzyme points to a new obesity therapy

Obesity is a global epidemic and a major cause of morbidity and mortality because it increases the risk for comorbidities, including heart disease and fatty liver disease (MASLD).

23 Dec 2025

Simple fruit granola intervention shows promising cardio-renal signals in CKD patients

A single-arm intervention study in Japanese adults with moderate chronic kidney disease found that replacing breakfast with fruit granola for two months lowered systolic blood pressure, reduced LDL-related lipid markers, and decreased a urinary marker of tubular injury. Renal function remained stable, bowel habits improved, and findings were exploratory due to the small, open-label design.

21 Dec 2025

Lifelong physical activity linked to lower metabolic syndrome risk

A new Finnish study shows that adults who remain physically active throughout adulthood have a markedly lower prevalence of metabolic syndrome at the age of 61 than those whose leisure-time physical activity remains low.

19 Dec 2025

Experimental drug targets early toxic amyloid to slow Alzheimer’s disease

An experimental drug developed at Northwestern University has demonstrated further promise as an early intervention for Alzheimer's disease.

18 Dec 2025

Couples-based programs boost heart-healthy behaviors

Research highlights the need for couple-based interventions in heart disease to focus on emotional support and relationship quality for better health outcomes.

18 Dec 2025

Strong heart health lowers long-term death risk in cancer survivors

Higher Life’s Simple 7 cardiovascular health scores were associated with lower long-term all-cause and cancer mortality in cancer survivors from a large Italian cohort. Inflammation, resting heart rate, and vitamin D statistically explained a substantial share of these associations, supporting shared cardiometabolic pathways across cancer and cardiovascular disease.

17 Dec 2025

Intermittent fasting edges daily calorie cuts for blood pressure and long-term cardiovascular risk estimates

In a real-world registry study of adults with overweight or obesity, 5:2 intermittent fasting and daily calorie restriction both improved blood pressure over 12 weeks. Intermittent fasting produced modestly greater reductions in systolic and pulse pressure and a larger drop in BMI-based 30-year cardiovascular risk scores, without superior lipid or glycaemic effects.

17 Dec 2025

High fructose intake increases fatty liver risk

Excessive fructose intake from soft drinks is linked to liver damage and NAFLD. Lifestyle modifications are essential for effective prevention and treatment.

16 Dec 2025

Mediterranean diet and healthy habits improve cancer survival rates

Being more physically active, following a balanced diet, not smoking, and keeping body weight and blood pressure under control: the same habits that protect the heart also prove decisive after a cancer diagnosis.

16 Dec 2025

Scientists create light-controlled versions of cholesterol

High levels of cholesterol are linked to heart disease, stroke, and many other health problems. However, this complex and vital fatty, water insoluble molecule-a lipid-is found in every cell of the body and is not all bad news. It also regulates crucial processes that science has yet to map.

15 Dec 2025

Single-pill combination medications may simplify treatment for adults with high blood pressure

Taking one pill that combines two or more blood pressure medications may help adults with high blood pressure (also known as hypertension) lower their blood pressure level faster and more effectively than taking multiple medications separately, and it may also reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke, according to a new scientific statement published today in the American Heart Association's journal Hypertension.

15 Dec 2025

Metabolic syndrome affects nearly four in ten US adults as rates climb in older and Black populations

A large NHANES analysis found that nearly four in ten US adults met criteria for metabolic syndrome between 2013 and 2023, with no statistically significant change in overall prevalence. However, prevalence rose significantly among adults aged 60 years and older and among non-Hispanic Black individuals, alongside a significant non-linear increase in hypertriglyceridemia.

14 Dec 2025

Lowering blood sugar reduces heart risk in prediabetes

Lowering blood sugar levels halves the likelihood of serious heart problems in people with prediabetes.

12 Dec 2025

Plant-based diets support healthy growth when properly planned for children

Vegetarian and vegan diets can support healthy growth when carefully planned with appropriate supplementation, finds a major new meta-analysis – the most comprehensive study to-date of plant-based diets in children.

12 Dec 2025

What happens to your body when you eat takeaway food too often?

This study of 8,556 US adults shows that frequent takeaway food consumption is associated with a higher energy-adjusted Dietary Inflammatory Index and adverse cardiometabolic markers. The findings suggest that reducing takeaway intake and lowering dietary inflammatory potential may improve long-term cardiometabolic health.

11 Dec 2025

Study elucidates novel mitochondrial mechanisms underlying anti-aging and longevity

As life expectancy continues to climb globally, the focus of many people has moved from longevity alone to living in good health.

10 Dec 2025

Family history of cardiometabolic disease linked to early heart damage in adolescents

A new study among more than 1,500 British adolescents is the first in the world to assess the association between familial cardiometabolic diseases and the offspring's risk of premature heart damage by early adulthood.

10 Dec 2025

Brain function discovery helps explain why childhood adversity raises metabolic disease risk in women

McGill University researchers have identified a brain function that helps explain why childhood stress raises metabolic health risks for some women later in life.

9 Dec 2025

Routine blood test may flag hidden osteoporosis risk, study finds

A large hospital-based cross-sectional study examined whether routinely measured serum alkaline phosphatase can indicate osteoporosis risk in adults undergoing health checks. Higher ALP levels, even within the normal range, were associated with greater osteoporosis likelihood, particularly in younger, female, and metabolically healthy individuals.

9 Dec 2025

Researchers capture high-resolution footage of flu viruses entering human cells

For the first time, researchers have observed live and in high resolution how influenza viruses infect living cells. This was possible thanks to a new microscopy technique, which could now help to develop antiviral therapies in a more targeted manner.

4 Dec 2025