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We're talking about heart research this week on Healthwatch. Cholesterol is a major factor in heart disease. It's what forms the plaques that block blood vessels, leading to heart attacks and strokes. Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have found that the body's mechanism for regulating cholesterol may also help maintain a balance between fat storage and fat burning.
When this mechanism isn't working properly, fat isn't stored.
Dr. David Mangelsdorf, the
UT Southwestern researcher who led the study, says this could be a key to helping fight obesity. Drugs could be developed using this knowledge that boost the body's ability to burn fat instead of storing it as excess weight. This research could also lead to the development of new drugs for lowering cholesterol levels and preventing heart disease.
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August 2005
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