High levels of cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol are associated with a higher risk of heart disease. View the posts regarding William Roberts who examines the recommendend levels. His suggestions are much lower than conventional medical advice. ¹ ~ ² ~ ³

William Roberts – The cause of heart disease – It is the cholesterol
Dr William Roberts, Causes of Heart Disease from an Expert

Popular commentators frequently claim that cholesterol is irrelevant in causing heart disease and suggest that diets high in carbohydrate such as rice, potatoes, wheat (including whole-grain wheat), yams, millet and buckwheat are responsible.

PCSK9 is a gene that reduces the life-time level of cholesterol. PCSK9 is an abbreviation for “proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 serine protease” gene which is why it is much more convenient to refer it as the PCSK9 gene.

The PCSK9 protein controls the number of low-density lipoprotein receptors. These receptors bind to low-density lipoproteins (LDLs) which transport cholesterol in the blood. The receptors are most prevalent in the liver which removes excess cholesterol from the blood.

The number of receptors on the surface of liver cells determines how quickly cholesterol is removed from the blood. Statins work by increasing the number of LDL receptors. ⁴

A paper published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2006 compared the incidence of myocardial infarction (heart attack), fatal heart diseased and coronary revascularization (treatment to restore blood flow to the heart) over a 15-year period.

Coronary revascularization is a group of treatments or procedures that restore blood flow to areas of your heart that aren’t getting enough blood to meet their needs, a problem known as ischemia.

In 3363 black subjects examined, 2.6% (1 in 40) had the PCSK9 gene variation. The presence of this gene resulted in a 28% reduction in mean LDL cholesterol and an 88% percent reduction in the risk of CHD.

In 9524 white subjects examined, 3.2% (1 in 30) the PCSK9 gene variation. This resulted in a 15% reduction in LDL cholesterol and a 47% reduction in the risk of CHD.

The authors’ conclusion is the “data indicate that moderate lifelong reduction in the plasma level of LDL cholesterol is associated with a substantial reduction in the incidence of coronary events.”

Last updated on Tuesday 23 April 2024 at 13:52 by administrators

1. Roberts, W. C. (2008) The Cause of Atherosclerosis. Nutrition in Clinical Practice. 23 (5), 464–467.
2. Roberts, W. C. (2008) The Cause of Atherosclerosis. Nutrition in Clinical Practice. 23 (5), 464–467.
3. Roberts, W. C. (1991) We think we are one, we act as if we are one, but we are not one. American Journal of Cardiology.  66 (10), 896.
4. Peterson, A. S. et al. (2008) PCSK9 function and physiology. Journal of Lipid Research. 49 (6), 1152–1156.