Driving down LDL has been the main target for improving cholesterol levels. Powerful cholesterol-lowering drugs called statins can cut the risk of developing and dying from heart disease by 30 to 40 percent.
But there’s more to the story of cholesterol and cardiovascular risk than LDL. Another key player is high-density lipoprotein (HDL), dubbed the “good” cholesterol. HDL removes LDL from the artery walls and ferries it back to the liver for processing or removal.
Cholesterol travels in the blood attached to lipoproteins. Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) enters the walls of arteries, where it contributes to the buildup of atherosclerotic plaque. High-density lipoprotein (HDL) removes LDL from the artery walls and carries it back to the liver. HDL also helps quell inflammation and protect the cells lining the arteries’ inner surface (endothelium). HDL also acts as an antioxidant, protecting against coronary artery disease and is anti-inflammatory, influencing the formation of artery-blocking clots, the ultimate cause of heart attacks and many strokes.