Nutrigenomics & Reversing Heart Disease

Epidemiological studies have shown as much as 2-3% increase in Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) risk for each 1 mg/dl decrease in HDL-C level. A myriad of lifestyle factors such as: oxidized fat intake, smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, limited physical activity and increased Waist:Hip have a role in determining individual HDL-C levels; however, family studies suggest that about 50% of the int er-individual variation in serum HDL-C levels is genetically determined

Hepatic lipase, an enzyme and SNP variant called LIPC gene, are found to be associated with a variation in HDL-C concentration. Hepatic lipase (HL) is a lipolytic enzyme that plays a role in triglyceride hydrolysis, phospholipid lipolysis, LDL-C remodeling and HDL-C metabolism. Carriers of the “T” allele in C/T polymorphism in LIPC gene had higher average HDL-C concentration than non-carriers.

HL promotes the conversion of buoyant HDL2-C particles to small and dense HDL3-C particles by remodeling triglycerides and phospholipids. LIPC is an important element in reverse cholesterol transport. Sufficient LIPC is necessary to transport cholesterol from the peripheral tissues to the liver and out via bile to lower total cholesterol levels.