Lipoproteins and Cardiovascular Health

Lipoproteins are protein-bound particles that carry fats, including cholesterol, through the bloodstream, and elevated levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol are among the strongest known drivers of atherosclerosis — the buildup of plaques inside arterial walls that underlies most heart attacks and strokes. Statins, drugs that inhibit cholesterol synthesis in the liver, have become a cornerstone of cardiovascular prevention, with decades of clinical trials and meta-analyses establishing their ability to reduce LDL and lower the risk of major cardiac events across a wide range of patients. Beyond cholesterol reduction, researchers are investigating whether statins exert additional protective effects through anti-inflammatory pathways — suggested in part by their relationship to circulating markers like C-reactive protein — and how genetic variation in cholesterol metabolism can help identify who faces the greatest risk and benefits most from treatment. Determining the optimal LDL targets, managing patients who cannot tolerate statins, and integrating newer lipid-lowering agents into existing guidelines remain active areas of clinical and translational research.

Works

114,822

Total citations

2,131,444

Keywords

Cholesterol-loweringStatinsCardiovascular Disease PreventionLDL CholesterolClinical TrialsAtherosclerotic Cardiovascular Risk