Little known type of cholesterol may pose the greatest heart disease risk

Friday, August 21, 2009 - 09:42 in Health & Medicine

Health-conscious people know that high levels of total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol (the so-called 'bad' cholesterol) can increase the risk of heart attacks. Now scientists are reporting that another form of cholesterol called oxycholesterol - virtually unknown to the public - may be the most serious cardiovascular health threat of all. Scientists from China presented one of the first studies on the cholesterol-boosting effects of oxycholesterol at the 238th National Meeting of the American Chemical Society. The researchers hope their findings raise public awareness about oxycholesterol, including foods with the highest levels of the substance and other foods that can combat oxycholesterol's effects...

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