A new protein injection has been found to break down triglycerides. Triglyceride is a type of fat in the blood and in high levels is quite bad for the heart. Elevated levels of triglycerides in the blood have been connected to coronary artery disease.

In a study, researcher tested the protein on mice that were genetically altered to have high levels of triglycerides. The medical reason why the mice had elevated levels of triglycerides was because they were missing a protein called, apolipoprotein (apo)A-V.  ApoA-V increases the efficiency of lipoprotein lipase, an enzyme needed to break down triglycerides. Basically, doctors wondered if the mice’s high triglycerides levels could be reduced by physically injecting apoA-V into them.

The results were over an 8-hour period, the mice had their triglycerides levels dropped 87%. Doctors hope the same could be done for humans with elevated levels of triglycerides caused by genetic diseases.

Although high cholesterol is a form of heart disease that people are familiar with, high triglyceride levels can also be harmful. What are triglycerides? WebMD states that “triglycerides are a type of fat found in your blood. They are a major source of energy and the most common type of fat in your body”. While we need triglycerides in our bodies to function, high levels of the fat can be harmful. “When triglyceride levels are high, it is not clear whether these high levels directly increase your risk for heart disease. But high triglycerides are often part of a group of conditions called metabolic syndrome”.

North Shore Hospitals’ recent women and heart disease live chat, gave insight into some of the keys of high triglycerides. Dr. Eileen A. Kelly Hensing’s expertise helped answer several pressing questions on triglycerides.
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