Plasma lipoproteins
The original article above refers to how low density lipoproteins (LDL) have become associated with 'bad' cholesterol. Lipoproteins, as the name suggests, are composed of both lipids and proteins. Plasma lipoproteins such as LDL are responsible for transport of triacylglycerols and cholesterol in the blood between the tissues. Cells need fat and cholesterol in order to build membranes which are essential for fluid transport and content and for structural integrity. LDL are in fact one of five groups of lipoproteins, the others being chylomicrons, very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL), intermediate-density lipoprotein (IDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL). The popular tendency to refer to VDL as 'bad cholesterol' is inaccurate as lipoproteins TRANSPORT cholesterol. This tendency has probably arisen as LDL can transport fat and cholesterol into artery walls and can activate macrophages, contributing to atherosclerosis whereas HDL (popularly and again inaccurately referred to as 'good cholesterol') tends to remove them from artery walls.
As the names suggest, the lipoproteins differ in their densities and size. However, within the subtypes of lipoproteins there is also variation in size and density. Distribution of lipoprotein profiles and of lipoprotein particle diameters appears to influence disease susceptibility and resistance. These profiles can be influenced by diet and other lifestyle choices. However, there is also a genetic element at work. Different ethnic populations have different susceptibilities
to cardiovascular disease, prompting for example the set up of the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA), a study of the characteristics of subclinical cardiovascular disease between different ethnic groups.
Lipoprotein profiles have been shown to differ by ethnicity and could help explain some differences in disease susceptibility between different ethnic groups. For example, sub-Saharan Africa has historically reported low levels of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and studies support the theory that this is related to ethnic variation in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol among other factors. In terms of insulin resistance and cardiovascular disease, variants in both the apolipoprotein B (APOB) gene region, which encodes the primary apolipoproteins of chylomicrons and low-density lipoproteins (LDL), and variation in the hepatic lipase (LIPC) gene, which encodes the enzyme that converts IDL to LDL, has been associated with mean VLDL and HDL diameter respectively in Caucasians.
The search goes on to determine what other ethnic differences could contribute to different cardiovascular disease susceptibilities. In the meantime, it is undoubtedly true that healthy diet choices can help swing the balance back in your favour whatever your ethnic background.
Sources
FRAZIER-WOOD, A. et al., 2013. Genetic variants associated with VLDL, LDL and HDL particle size differ with race/ethnicity. Human genetics, 132(4), pp. 405-413
MACKEY, R.H. et al., 2012. High-density lipoprotein cholesterol and particle concentrations, carotid atherosclerosis, and coronary events: MESA (multi-ethnic study of atherosclerosis). United States: Elsevier Biomedical.
SLIWA, K. et al., 2012. Different lipid profiles according to ethnicity in the Heart of Soweto study cohort of de novo presentations of heart disease. Cardiovascular Journal Of Africa, 23(7), pp. 389-395
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/projects/gap...0209.v2.p1
The original article above refers to how low density lipoproteins (LDL) have become associated with 'bad' cholesterol. Lipoproteins, as the name suggests, are composed of both lipids and proteins. Plasma lipoproteins such as LDL are responsible for transport of triacylglycerols and cholesterol in the blood between the tissues. Cells need fat and cholesterol in order to build membranes which are essential for fluid transport and content and for structural integrity. LDL are in fact one of five groups of lipoproteins, the others being chylomicrons, very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL), intermediate-density lipoprotein (IDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL). The popular tendency to refer to VDL as 'bad cholesterol' is inaccurate as lipoproteins TRANSPORT cholesterol. This tendency has probably arisen as LDL can transport fat and cholesterol into artery walls and can activate macrophages, contributing to atherosclerosis whereas HDL (popularly and again inaccurately referred to as 'good cholesterol') tends to remove them from artery walls.
As the names suggest, the lipoproteins differ in their densities and size. However, within the subtypes of lipoproteins there is also variation in size and density. Distribution of lipoprotein profiles and of lipoprotein particle diameters appears to influence disease susceptibility and resistance. These profiles can be influenced by diet and other lifestyle choices. However, there is also a genetic element at work. Different ethnic populations have different susceptibilities
to cardiovascular disease, prompting for example the set up of the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA), a study of the characteristics of subclinical cardiovascular disease between different ethnic groups.
Lipoprotein profiles have been shown to differ by ethnicity and could help explain some differences in disease susceptibility between different ethnic groups. For example, sub-Saharan Africa has historically reported low levels of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and studies support the theory that this is related to ethnic variation in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol among other factors. In terms of insulin resistance and cardiovascular disease, variants in both the apolipoprotein B (APOB) gene region, which encodes the primary apolipoproteins of chylomicrons and low-density lipoproteins (LDL), and variation in the hepatic lipase (LIPC) gene, which encodes the enzyme that converts IDL to LDL, has been associated with mean VLDL and HDL diameter respectively in Caucasians.
The search goes on to determine what other ethnic differences could contribute to different cardiovascular disease susceptibilities. In the meantime, it is undoubtedly true that healthy diet choices can help swing the balance back in your favour whatever your ethnic background.
Sources
FRAZIER-WOOD, A. et al., 2013. Genetic variants associated with VLDL, LDL and HDL particle size differ with race/ethnicity. Human genetics, 132(4), pp. 405-413
MACKEY, R.H. et al., 2012. High-density lipoprotein cholesterol and particle concentrations, carotid atherosclerosis, and coronary events: MESA (multi-ethnic study of atherosclerosis). United States: Elsevier Biomedical.
SLIWA, K. et al., 2012. Different lipid profiles according to ethnicity in the Heart of Soweto study cohort of de novo presentations of heart disease. Cardiovascular Journal Of Africa, 23(7), pp. 389-395
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/projects/gap...0209.v2.p1
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