High triglycerides drive life-threatening aortic aneurysms, study in mice finds (Also aortic dissections)

Medical Xpress / University of Michigan / Circulation ^ | Aug. 14, 2025 | Noah Fromson / Yaozhong Liu et al

[ConservativeMind]

High levels of triglycerides, the most common type of fat in the body and the foods we eat, directly cause abdominal aortic aneurysms, according to a study in mouse models.

Researchers identified triglyceride-rich lipoproteins and proteins that regulate triglyceride metabolism, including APOC3 and ANGPTL3, as causal drivers of abdominal aortic aneurysm.

The study challenges the longstanding belief that triglycerides are merely biomarkers of vascular disease and instead demonstrates that they play a direct role.

"We have known that hyperlipidemia is a risk factor for aortic aneurysm, but this multidimensional study pinpoints hypertriglyceridemia as an essential contributor to the development and growth, as well as dissection and rupture, of aortic aneurysms," said Eugene Chen, M.D., Ph.D.

"Our findings suggest that managing triglycerides could become a powerful therapeutic strategy."

Using three different mouse models of hypertriglyceridemia, the research team demonstrated a triglyceride dose-dependent effect on aneurysm severity.

Moderate elevations in triglycerides accelerated aneurysm formation, while higher levels led to aortic dissection.

Mice with severely elevated triglyceride concentrations developed more severe complications consistent with aortic rupture.

Further investigation revealed that elevated triglycerides and related fatty acids, particularly palmitate, impaired the maturation and activity of lysyl oxidase, a critical enzyme that maintains the structural integrity of the aortic wall.

This enzyme dysfunction weakened connective tissue and promoted aneurysm progression.

By overexpressing LOX in the aorta, researchers effectively blocked the damaging effects of hypertriglyceridemia in the mouse models, confirming the mechanism.

Standard lipid-lowering therapies, such as niacin, didn't sufficiently reduce triglyceride levels to a protective range.

However, investigators found success with experimental antisense oligonucleotide therapy. The drug candidate targets the ANGPTL3, which is secreted in the liver and affects how the body breaks down fats.

The treatment dramatically lowered triglyceride levels by up to 50% and prevented aneurysm formation and dissection in multiple mouse models.

[rarestia]

Tallow has similar benefits, although I’m not sure about the adhesive qualities. Any natural, edible oil (tallow, coconut, butter, and olive oil) has benefits for your gut microbiome, metabolism, and overall health.

[Myrddin]

Thanks for the update. After lunch.

[Myrddin]

Surgery is very likely to fail in my case, so it is a waiting game.

[srmanuel]

I wish the best, open heart surgery is no joke it’s a very serious procedure and you will be in the hospital for a few days, I was in for 6-days and 5-nights

It was not particularly painful but as I said earlier the stress and anxiety was very real and I was not expecting that to happen

When I got home I slept in a recliner for three weeks because I couldn’t lay flat on my back

Cardiac rehab was the single best thing I did in recovery I would urge you to take it, it’s supervised exercise that gave a lot of confidence that my surgery was successful and was going to hold up when I stressed my heart during exercise

I wish you all the best

[Myrddin]

I lost most of last year to a Whipple procedure for Ampullary cancer. Painful and debilitating. Submitting to more surgery when the surgeon himself has no faith that it would be successful is unnecessary risk for uncertain gain. My oldest son had 4 open heart surgeries, 2 artificial valves, a pig patch and a pacemaker, so I’ve seen the consequences first hand.

[srmanuel]

Whatever is in your future I wish you the best, medical issues like that are difficult situations to deal with

[Myrddin]

Thanks. There is little to do beyond being cautious and getting my ducks in a row ahead of the event.