Genetics and cholesterol metabolism

Abstract

The regulation of cholesterol metabolism by both genetic and environmental factors seems to be very complex. The recent research approach focusing on the genetic control of many key regulatory processes of cholesterol homeostasis has, however, started to elucidate the importance of genetic variation in susceptibility to a number of common clinical disorders such as hyperlipidemia, atherosclerosis, poor diet response, gallstone formation, colon tumours, and reduced lifespan.