CardioExchange Archive

Large Genetic Study Sheds Light on Triglycerides’ Role in Heart Disease: A large new study appearing in the Lancet provides preliminary evidence that triglycerides may play a causative role in heart disease. Investigators in the Triglyceride Coronary Disease Genetics Consortium and Emerging Risk Factors Collaboration studied a promoter polymorphism of a gene (APOA5) tied to triglyceride levels. Performing a Mendelian randomization analysis, the investigators found that subjects with the gene variation had higher levels of triglycerides and an elevated risk for coronary disease.

“Although these genetic findings are consistent with a causative role for triglyceride fats in the development of heart disease, they do not replace the need for large randomised clinical trials of medications that can lower blood triglycerides,” said Dr. Nadeem Sarwar in a press release issued by the Lancet. “Such trials should help establish whether lowering triglyceride levels can reduce the risk of heart disease.”

In an accompanying comment, Guillaume Pare and Sonia Anand compliment the “well executed Mendelian randomization experiment” but note that APOA5 may have “a direct effect on coronary risk above and beyond its effect on triglycerides” and conclude that “the true nature of triglycerides’ effect on coronary risk still needs further clarification.”