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Atherosclerosis and the importance of controlling cholesterol from childhood
- September 25, 2024
Atherosclerosis , known as the narrowing of blood flow due to the accumulation of fatty plaques in the arteries, is one of the main causes of cardiovascular mortality globally. This condition accounts for 85% of deaths related to heart problems in Spain. It is an alarming phenomenon that leads us to reflect on cardiovascular health from the early stages of life.
Recently, a study from the University of Cambridge has raised alarm bells. Although the risk of atherosclerosis was previously thought to begin in middle age, it is now suggested that problems can arise much earlier, even in childhood . This new perspective implies a change of mentality regarding the control of cholesterol levels, the main culprit in the formation of plaques that clog arteries.
The team in charge of the research, led by Professor Ziad Mallat of the Institute Victor Phillip Dahdaleh, used mouse models to look at how different diets influenced atherosclerotic buildup. Rather than feeding a high-fat diet over long periods, the study examined the effects of unstable feeding at different stages of development .
Mallat She said there were different opinions among experts as to how intermittent dieting might affect cardiovascular risk. However, the results showed that a high-fat, intermittent diet during childhood was found to be the most detrimental choice in terms of cardiovascular health.
To apply these findings to the human population, the researchers analyzed information from the Young Finns Study, which has followed enrolled young people since the 1980s. The study included more than 2,000 participants who underwent ultrasound scans of their carotid arteries at ages 30 and 50.
The findings were revealing: those with higher cholesterol levels during childhood showed a greater accumulation of arterial fat in adulthood. This sends a clear message: we cannot afford to postpone cholesterol control, as atherosclerosis can be prevented if we start raising awareness from an early age.
Mallat He warns that atherosclerosis is preventable by lowering cholesterol levels, but to do so it is crucial that we start to worry about it earlier than we often imagine. In addition, the researcher points out that fluctuations in cholesterol levels can be harmful, explaining why some patients who take statins intermittently do not reduce their cardiovascular risk effectively.
Stopping statin therapy can lead to a cholesterol rebound effect , which negatively affects the body's ability to prevent plaque buildup in the arteries. These changes may be linked to macrophages, a type of immune cell that plays a crucial role in clearing arterial walls. Research shows that alterations in cholesterol have physical repercussions, modifying the genetic expression of these cells and turning them into agents that can promote atherosclerosis.
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