Liver May Hold Key to Good Cholesterol

A recent study that gene-targeted mice found that good cholesterolmay be generated in the liver. In an effort to find clues tothe rare Tangier disease, in which affected people are unable toproduce high-density lipoprotein (HDL), researchers found thatthe liver is the source of 80% of HDL.

Scientists had previously believed that HDL was formedthroughout the body, particularly in the blood vessel walls. Thisnew finding could lead the way for a variety of drugs to be developed.Besides Tangier disease, low HDL is associated with ahigher risk of heart attack.