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  • RESEARCH HIGHLIGHT

How the body’s cholesterol factory avoids producing too much

Scientists identify a molecule that halts cholesterol production in the liver when dietary consumption is high.
3D artwork of cholesterol moving through blood vessels with red blood cells

High levels of cholesterol (artist’s impression) in the blood raise the risk of cardiovascular disease. Credit: Animated Healthcare/Science Photo Library

Cholesterol is a key building block of cell membranes, but high blood cholesterol can raise the risk of cardiovascular disease. To keep levels in check, the body adjusts how much cholesterol it creates depending on how much of the molecule is absorbed from food. Now scientists have discovered that a hormone secreted in the intestines helps to prevent the liver from creating cholesterol and could lead to treatments that help to prevent cardiovascular disease1.

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Nature 627, 707 (2024)

doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-024-00765-7

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