I heard that some people in Italy have a gene that protects them from really high cholesterol. Can I receive treatment with this to make my heart disease get better?
. Many people have heard or read about the small town in Italy with a supposedly “magic” gene that protects against heart disease. What are the facts? As so often, the truth is not as exciting as the press makes it seem. Several people in this small Italian town have a very low level of HDL and relatively high triglycerides, but no heart disease. Initially, it was thought that people with this genetic condition (called apoA-I Milano) lived longer than other Italians, but it was later realized that all people in this small town live longer than other Italians in general! There is no direct evidence that this gene protects against heart disease or causes it to improve. Nevertheless, this story has been publicized widely, leading many to go in search of treatment based on this gene. Studies are underway which should eventually provide more information about whether apoA-I Milano has any clinical benefit in preventing or treating heart disease.
Related Questions
- I heard that some people in Italy have a gene that protects them from really high cholesterol. Can I receive treatment with this to make my heart disease get better?
- How can cardiac MR imaging help guide development of gene therapy for treatment of coronary heart disease?
- How may flaxseed oil benefit people suffered from high cholesterol, heart disease and diabetes?
