My latest article was just published over in @PirateWires
It's all about how we're getting closer and closer to finally ending heart disease.
Simply put: most heart disease could be eliminated over the coming decades if we leverage gene therapies companies are working on today!
Many users expressed excitement about gene therapies like VERVE-102 for permanently cutting LDL cholesterol and preventing heart disease with one infusion, while some dismissed the ideas as moronic or no better than statins.
No Digg Deeper questions have been answered for this story yet.
Link: https://www.piratewires.com/p/the-end-of-high-cholesterol
Daily whitepill:
A new gene therapy dramatically, and permanently, reduces LDL cholesterol. If approved, it could eliminate one of the leading causes of heart disease with a single infusion.
Most heart attacks are the result of years of exposure to this ‘bad cholesterol’ your doctor might’ve told you about. Since the late 80s, the solution has been statins — pills you have to take daily.
Now, a new gene therapy called VERVE-102 is showing promise at finally tackling the underlying cause of high cholesterol... all with just one round of treatment.
@cremieuxrecueil explains 👇
@ChristofferBN @ThatEngineer3N6 @cremieuxrecueil @PirateWires I took a statin for 6 months and gained 15 lbs because I was starving 24/7, I literally could not eat enough food, because I assume my body was used to a lot of cholesterol for bodily function. I am naturally at 220 LDL 50 tris, 0 calcium score, 0 soft plaques at 39.
@cremieuxrecueil @PirateWires The gene therapy is such cool science.
For people who want this today, you can cut cholesterol by 85% with statin + zetia + PCSK9 inhibitors. The first two are so cheap it’s a no brainer, and PCSK9 inhibitors are slowly getting more insurance coverage.
@cremieuxrecueil @PirateWires Does this mean I could eat steaks everyday and not have to worry?!
@OliverBCushing @PirateWires That's the goal!
https://www.cremieux.xyz/p/we-should-live-forever
@cremieuxrecueil @PirateWires Aren't triglycerides far more of a concern than LDL? It's been a while since I took a deep dive, but if the triglyceride:HDL ratio is less than 1 or 2, you are essentially at no risk for heart disease, regardless of overall numbers.
@cremieuxrecueil @PirateWires I am not sure I understand the appeal of the gene therapy when we already have cheap, safe, widely accessible pills.
Is it just adherence? Or have we seen evidence of differential benefit.
@cremieuxrecueil In the meantime, do cardio and eat clean
@ThatEngineer3N6 @PirateWires They're less of a concern than LDL, but regardless, if you read the piece, you'll see companies are working on them too.
@cremieuxrecueil @PirateWires I mean, you also need to stop eating burgers/pizza and so on weekly, and focus on as much clean eating as possible.
@cremieuxrecueil lfg im gonna eat so much ice cream
@OliverBCushing @ForagingForever @cremieuxrecueil @PirateWires Because artificially manipulating genes selected over millions of years of evolution to produce the carriers that deliver the building blocks of cells isn't likely going to prevent any heart attacks, no matter how many times statisticians confuse association with causation.
@cremieuxrecueil !!!
@cremieuxrecueil @PirateWires Meanwhile, the leading causes of heart disease:
@OliverBCushing @cremieuxrecueil @PirateWires You already can if you don't overload on processed carbs... Or maybe it's my genetics but I eat a nearly carnivore diet and have no cholesterol issues.
@ThatEngineer3N6 @cremieuxrecueil @PirateWires TGs are simply a mediator. A "blind passenger" so to speak. If lower TGs lower ApoB-containing lipoproteins (LDL, IDL, VLDL) they're regarded as part of the causal chain. If TGs are not lowered, just remodelled (i.e. less TG but not fewer ApoB-containing LPs) they're not causal.
@cremieuxrecueil The mechanism is interesting, looks like instead of inhibiting cholesterol or LDL synthesis it maintains hepatic LDL receptor density, so LDL synthesis stays about normal but clearance is perpetually high. I'd be concerned about irreversible side effects in things like steroid...
@cremieuxrecueil The final piece in the puzzle = therapeutics that can reverse atherosclerosis. Those might be coming soon!
@OliverBCushing @cremieuxrecueil @PirateWires You can eat steaks now and not worry. But skip the dessert.
