Friend or foe: cholesterol’s contested role
Describing the lipoprotein as ‘good’ or ‘bad’ ignores its complex and nuanced function
In the body’s grand theatre of life, the heart plays a leading role. Among the cast of characters supporting its role are those that doctors have traditionally seen as “villains of the piece”. Science is dramatically changing that perception.
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol has long been considered a villain. Doctors called it “bad cholesterol” after research linking it as a cause of cardiovascular disease (CVD, an umbrella term for conditions that include heart attack and stroke). When LDL levels rise, many doctors still reach for the prescription pad to put patients on cholesterol-lowering drugs. The most well known and controversial are statins. ..
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