Posted on 12/12/2008 1:18:15 PM PST by metmom
WASHINGTON — A rare genetic abnormality found in people in an insular Amish community protects them from heart disease, a discovery that could lead to new drugs to prevent heart ailments, U.S. researchers said on Thursday.
About 5 percent of Old Order Amish people in Pennsylvania's Lancaster County have only one working copy rather than the normal two of a gene that makes a protein that slows the breakdown of triglycerides, a type of fat that circulates in the blood, the researchers wrote in the journal Science.
"People who have the mutation all have low triglycerides," said Toni Pollin of the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore, who led the study.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
My grandmother lived to be 95 or so. She was overweight and I can only imagine what her cholesterol readings were.
I don’t think that my insurance will cover a consultation with the dr to just discuss the topic but I certainly will look into this other test the other FReeper mentioned next time I’m in for a cold or stitches on a sliced up finger :)
*sigh*. I have food allergy issues and some other food reactions, and can’t eat most any fruits or vegetables.
I hear you.
My ratio (LDL/Tot Chol) is really low too....but, I still have the small pattern B LDL...I think you might want to look into VLDL .....hope that helps.....I was told to keep exercising....and drinking red wine and eating chocolate....LOL....evidently they are good for LDL
I tried fish oil and didn’t feel good when I took it. I tried Evening Primrose Oil and think I reacted to it but it could have been something else.
At this point, I’m wary of taking anything out of the ordinary for me. I’ve yet to figure out what my reactions are, if they are indeed allergic. If they’re not, I have no clue and the doctors have not been much help.
But I don’t fancy any trips to the ER for anaphylactic shock. And even if the reactions aren’t that bad, I feel so crappy for a couple days, that it’s almost not worth the risk.
What’s VLDL? I’ve seen that mentioned.
RE: VLDL...here’s what Mayo Clinic says about it...I noted what they said about alcohol intake, too....whatever...different docs....HA.
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/vldl-cholesterol/AN01335/
I lowered my bad stuff greatly with flax seed capsules. Didn’t go anything for my tris though
Thanks. My BP is fine, I’m not diabetic.
I’ve had liver function tests and thyroid tests and everything comes back normal. The ONLY thing I have is high LDL. It doesn’t make much sense to have high LDL, high, HDL, low TG, and no other health issues.
That’s what really makes me wonder exactly what kind of risk factors I really have.
And besides, if the cholesterol doesn’t get me, a bus could.
I’ll look into that. I’ll see if I can get the flax seed itself and try little bits at a time to see if it bothers me.
Exactly.
No doctor could ever talk me into taking a statin.
I would have to be absolutely convinced that my life was literally on the line if I didn’t take it. But since it’s not in the same category as antihistamines or an Epi-Pen, he’s going to have an awfully hard time.
That’s exactly my thoughts! No need to develop a new drug, develop a ‘lifestyle change’ so you don’t need the drugs!
“We just call him ‘TV.’ “
And his plug needs to be pulled.
The drugs are developed BECAUSE people won’t do a lifestyle change. It’s easier to take medicine.
My doctor tried the statin route one me...got backaches and quit before the first bottle ran out. I bought some Niacin at Sam's, which got the cholesterol down in the normal range.. cheaper too.
FWIW, I am on statins and my cholesterol is 131 (down from a high of 260). But all they did was lower my LDL a lot. They do nothing to increase HDL or lower triglycerides. My HDL is very low. My Triglycerides are quite high.
I started on the statins, along with beta blockers and Plavix, because I had a clogged artery and a heart attack. I had emergency angioplasty and stent placement.
I am male, was a smoker (I quit in the hospital ICU ward and never lit one since my release).
I do get blood tests regularly now, my liver numbers are high because of all the medication. It is a concern for me but not my cardiologist. Without boring you with too many other details, I think the cliche “diet and exercise” is right. My diet is good, but I don’t exercise hardly at all. I spend 8 hours a week in the car driving to and from work, and work 10 hours a day, I just don’t squeeze in time on the bicycle which I should do. 30 minutes 3-4 days a week raising my heart rate on an exercise bike would probably fix the remaining issues for me, and everyone, by raising my LDL They might even allow me to get off the statins.
I guess it will be my new years resolution. Come back to me in June and I’ll let you know if I did it and if it worked :-)
Sure do. My neighbors had a potato bin in the barn that lasted both our families all year. They also make liberal use of lard btw, which is probably why their bakery tastes so good.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.