Apolipoprotein E (APOE) is a protein that plays a pivotal role in lipid metabolism, shuttling cholesterol and other fats through the bloodstream as part of lipoproteins. The APOE gene, located on chromosome 19, comes in three main variants—ε2, ε3, and ε4—each with distinct effects on cardiovascular health and other conditions like Alzheimer’s disease. These variants influence how efficiently your body clears cholesterol, impacting your risk of heart disease, stroke, and more. In this blog, we’ll explore the science behind APOE variants, their association with heart disease, and practical ways to manage risks if you carry higher-risk alleles.
Read Morevillain in this ongoing health saga. For decades, the medical community has held firm to the belief that high levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), often dubbed "bad cholesterol," inevitably spell disaster for heart health. But what if this narrative isn't the full story? A groundbreaking new study conducted by a team of innovative researchers is turning this conventional wisdom on its head, particularly for a unique group known as lean mass hyper-responders (LMHRs). I wrote about lean mass hyper-responders in a previous post, which you can read here. Published in April 2025, this research dives into the effects of ketogenic diets on cholesterol and plaque buildup, offering fresh insights that could reshape how we assess cardiovascular risk. THis post will explore these findings and why they matter.
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