clipped from www.admin.cam.ac.uk Genes that boost good cholesterol may protect against heart disease More than one in three people have genetic variations which raise ‘good cholesterol’ and may protect against heart disease, according to research published today by scientists at Cambridge University. the research used data from 102 different studies and up to 147,000 people from across the world. With around 227,000 people in the UK suffering a heart attack each year, attempts to prevent heart attacks have previously focused on reducing levels of ‘harmful’ or low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol with lifestyle improvements and statins (cholesterol drugs). This research suggests that modification of HDL cholesterol could also have benefits, despite previous clinical trials having been unsuccessful. Researchers are questioning whether approaches that raise ‘good’ HDL cholesterol could further prevent heart disease This study suggests that raising good cholesterol may have benefits