Can A Single Gene Reduce Our
Cholesterol Levels?

Scientists have discovered a gene that is found in both mice and human DNA that can potentially reduce cholesterol levels drastically.

Cholesterol is often perceived as a negative part of our body. However, there are several important reasons why cholesterol is still crucial. One instance is the connection of molecules with cholesterol levels. A single molecule can make up multiple components of cell membranes. The body needs those membranes to produce vitamin D and hormones.

However, it is also easy to have excess amounts of cholesterol in your blood levels. Low-density lipoprotein is the risk factor for atherosclerosis that can happen when you have too much cholesterol. Atherosclerosis will result in your arteries being too narrow due to high amounts of fatty plaques. Thus, resulting in a stroke or heart attack.

Cholesterol is processed in the liver. You can also increase your cholesterol levels from rich sources like eggs, butter, and even red meat. Some people are predisposed to have genetically high levels of blood cholesterol levels. Inheritance should also be considered when it comes to understanding cholesterol levels.

It is always generally a good idea to regularly screen yourself for testing. There are numerous health and wellness tests that you can take to understand your risk factor when it comes to food and cholesterol.

Brian Parks, a nutritional sciences professor, claimed that we still have a long way to go to understanding how genetic differences can cause a significant amount of differences in cholesterol and obesity.

However, Professor Brian Parks is undergoing new research on the findings on people and their genetic inherited risk of developing high blood cholesterol levels. This work involves the use of a gene that is normally found in cholesterol production.

Large Amounts Of Data

The work the Prof. Brian Parks made sparked the entire genome-wide association studies. It created a massive database for genome sequences to be paired with specific health conditions.

The studies have shown tremendous amounts of new information that helped the study cholesterol. However, those studies have only made the research easier. We are still not yet on the precipice of actually understanding the subject.

A large study of 500,000 people can help identify different genome regions that can be associated with differences in blood cholesterol. However, the research does not contribute to actual new information other than isolating the different reactions in blood cholesterol.

Fortunately, Professor Parks formulated a new technique that should help narrow down the search even further. They used the formulated statistics they made at the genome-wide association studies and combine them using details from their animal data. A genetic predisposition test is formulated to narrow down the best overlap between the two genetic codes.

Thus, the formula for comparing mice and the human gene pool began. The genetic overlap of those 2 creatures shares an average of 85% of their genetic sequences. Of course, that is excluding the “junk” DNA that rodents carry for obvious reasons.

The study was first implemented on the livers of the mice found in the lab. That research led them to a whole network of 112 genes that correlates to cholesterol production.

The researches would then need to cross-reference their data by overlapping the results with human DNA. For optimal results they used humans with known high cholesterols.

This entire procedure led to the discovery of 54 genes. With 25 of those matching genes standing out due to their connection with cholesterol and lipid metabolism. That helped discover the traces of those 25 previously unknown genomes.

All those research led them to narrow the search to a set of a gene called “Sestrin1”

Control Your Cholesterol Synthesis

Cholesterol synthesis is a process that happens consistently without fail. However, scientists have determined that “Sestrin1” could potentially shut down the cholesterol synthesis process. You just need an adequate amount of cholesterol in your liver from your diet.

The research has determined that taking the gene out from the livers of the mice caused them to lose control of their cholesterol systems. A healthy diet with the right amount of molecules is not even enough to prevent them from having high cholesterol. It is a great idea to use this opportunity to reflect on your diet choices. You have to ensure that you have ample supply of gut microbiome food in your system to prevent the growth of high cholesterol.

Further research is needed to fully comprehend the reason behind the “Sestrin1”. However, the potential of combining mouse and human DNA to regulate cholesterol is still their best course of understanding the concept of cholesterol synthesis.

Professor Parks himself stated that there is a strong possibility that this research could potentially divulge into other risk factors such as obesity.

This research has the capacity for science to develop new personalized or precision medicine. Thus, doctors can specifically choose the right medicine to administer based on a person’s genetics.

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