This document discusses heart disease and challenges the prevailing lipid hypothesis. It argues that atherosclerosis is caused by molecular degeneration and cellular miscommunication rather than high cholesterol alone. Evidence presented includes that familial hypercholesterolemia is linked to early heart disease, and factors like LDL receptor activity, thyroid function, antioxidants, and resolving inflammation play important roles in cardiovascular health.

1. Heart Disease and Molecular Degeneration The New Paradigm Presented by Chris Masterjohn, Doctoral Candidate (UConn) Cholesterol-And-Health.Com

2. Cholesterol… What does it mean to you?

3. The Cholesterol Warriors Joseph Goldstein and Michael Brown Nobel Prize, 1985 LDL Receptor Pathway, 1976 “ Although the Cholesterol Wars are not over, major battles have been won by the anti-cholesterol forces, i.e. those who condemn cholesterol as the culprit. Like modern armies, the anti-cholesterol forces have been aided by powerful new weapons.” – Brown and Goldstein “ In war, the first casualty is truth.” – Aeschylus, Greek tragic dramatist, (525 BC – 456 BC)

4. The Cholesterol Skeptics “ Cholesterol and lipoproteins were indicted, tried, and ultimately found guilty as major contributors to the atherosclerotic lesion.” – Daniel Steinberg, MD, PhD “ There exists a massive volume of scientific evidence that completely absolves dietary cholesterol, saturated fat, and elevated blood cholesterol of any harmful role in heart disease.” – Anthony Colpo

5. Heart Disease and Molecular Degeneration The cholesterol-fed rabbit is relevant. Familial hypercholesterolemia is important. Blood lipids do play a role in heart disease. High cholesterol levels do not cause heart disease. Atherosclerosis is an adaptive, homeostatic response to a pathological process. A disease of molecular degeneration and cellular miscommunication .

6. The Lipid Hypothesis Elevated levels of cholesterol in the blood, or specifically LDL-associated cholesterol, infiltrate the blood vessel, which causes heart disease.

7. The Diet-Heart Hypothesis Saturated fat and cholesterol in the diet increase cholesterol levels in the blood, which causes heart disease.

8. The Cholesterol-Fed Rabbit – 1913

9. Rabbits Developed Advanced Human-Like Atherosclerotic Lesions Baboons Cats Chickens Chimpanzees Dogs Goats Monkeys Mice Parrots Pigs Pigeons Rats Guinea Pigs Hamsters “ In human atherosclerosis the conditions are different . It is quite certain that such large quantities of cholesterin are not ingested with the ordinary food. In human patients we have probably to deal with a primary disturbance of the cholesterin metabolism , which may lead to atherosclerosis even if the hypercholesterinemia is less pronounced, provided only that it is of long duration and associated with other injurious factors.

10. A Clue in the Needle – Injection of Free Cholesterol Doesn’t Cut It Feeding rabbits cholesterol produced atherosclerosis . Injecting rabbits with cholesterol did not produce atherosclerosis. Isolate lipoproteins Injecting rabbits with lipoproteins did produce atherosclerosis.

11. A Clue in the Tails of the Bell Curve

12. Hypercholesterolemia, Xanthomas, and Heart Disease 1889 -- Xanthomas tied to heart problems. Some researchers noted hypercholesterolemia associated with xanthomas. 1908 – Xanthomas composed of cholesterol esters.

13. Familial Hypercholesterolemia is a Defect in the LDL Receptor Joseph Goldstein and Michael Brown Nobel Prize, 1985 LDL Receptor Pathway, 1976

14. Familial Hypercholesterolemia (FH) Causes CHD in Childhood J Pediatr. 1982;100(5):757-9 “ We are aware of one death from myocardial infarction in a white South African homozygous child 18 months of age . The oldest homozygote in our series was L.Fl., whose death at age 27 following his third myocardial infarction was described above.” – Frederickson and Levy. Familial Hyperlipoproteinemia. In: Stanbury, et al., eds. The Metabolic Basis of Inherited Disease. 1972.

15. CHD Risk After Age 30 Increases Dramatically in Heterozygote FH Umans-Eckenhausen, et al. Low-Denisty Lipoprotein Receptor Gene Mutations and Cardiovascular Risk in a Large Genetic Cascade Screening Population. Circulation. 2002;106:3031-6.

16. FH Produces the Largest Survival Gap Ages 30-60, But the Gap Remains Through the 70s Umans-Eckenhausen, et al. Low-Denisty Lipoprotein Receptor Gene Mutations and Cardiovascular Risk in a Large Genetic Cascade Screening Population. Circulation. 2002;106:3031-6.

17. A Clue in the Tails of the Bell Curve

18. Increased LDL Receptor Activity Virtually Abolishes Risk of CHD CohenJC, et al. Sequence variations in PCSK9, low LDL, and protection against coronary heart disease. N Engl J Med. 2006;354(12):1264-72.

19. Does LDL Receptor Activity Matter for Everyone Else? LDL Receptor Activity CHD Risk Homozygous FH Heterozygous FH PCSK9 Mutation Everyone else?

20. Does LDL Receptor Activity Matter for Everyone Else? ?

21. Cholestyramine Reduces the Risk of Heart Disease

22. Testing the Lipid Hypothesis: Cholestyramine and the Coronary Primary Prevention Trial Cholestyramine binds bile acids. Excretion Liver converts cholesterol to bile acids. LDL-R Liver takes cholesterol from the blood by increasing its expression of the LDL receptor.

23. Statins – Greater Cholesterol Reduction, Greater CHD Reduction Individual squares represent individual trials. Size of square represents number of participants. Horizontal axis represents reduction in LDL-C Vertical axis represents relative risk reduction in CHD. Baigent et al. Lancet. 2005;366(9493):1267-78.

24. Statins Lower Cholesterol by Increasing LDL Receptor Activity cholesterol synthesis in liver free cholesterol concentration LDL-R LDL receptor takes cholesterol in from the blood

25. Thyroid Hormone Activates LDL Receptor Expression SRE – Sterol Regulatory Element communicates that the cell needs cholesterol TRE – Thyroid Response Element communicates that the body is in a state of abundance Lopez D. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta. 2007;1771:1216-25.

26. Thyroid Extract Decreases CVD Incidence 4- to 7-Fold Kountz, WB. Thyroid Function and its Possible Role in Vascular Degeneration. American Lecture Series. 1951.

27. The LDL Receptor Traffic Jam

28. LDL Oxidation – It’s About Time! Young and McEneny. Lipoprotein oxidation and atherosclerosis. Biochem Soc Trans. 2001;29:358-62.

29. LDL Oxidation, Not Concentration, Determines Macrophage Uptake Human LDL incubated with human endothelial cells. Human LDL incubated in cell-free dishes. Henrisksen T, Mahoney EM, Steinberg D. Enhanced macrophage degradation of biologically modified low density lipoprotein. Arterioscelrosis. 1983;3(2):149-59

30. Oxidized LDL is Toxic to Endothelial Cells Sata M, Walsh K. Endothelial Cell Apoptosis Induced by Oxidized LDL is Associated with the Down-regulation of the Cellular Caspase Inhibitor FLIP. J Biol Cehm. 1998;273(50):3303-6

31. The Atherosclerotic Plaque is a Toxic Waste Superfund Site Foam Cell Oxidized LDL

32. Strategies for Preventing Atherosclerosis Optimize thyroid status Support the antioxidant defense system Support proper regulation of inflammation

33. Sources of Oxidants Mitochondria Inflammatory Cells Superoxide H2O2 Superoxide Nitric Oxide H2O2 Hyperchlorous Acid Peroxynitrite

34. Lipid Peroxidation Begins When Vitamin C Disappears Frei, et al. Ascorbate is an outstanding antioxidant in human blood plasma. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 1989;86:6377-81.

35. The Complex Network of Endogenous Antioxidants Important mineral cofactors for antioxidant enzymes: selenium, zinc, copper, manganese, iron Synthesis of glutathione: protein, magnesium, energy

36. Fruit and Vegetable Polyphenols: The Good-For-You Toxins

37. Resolving Inflammation Introduction of Inflammatory Factor Inflammation Resolution omega-3 deficiency healthy course

38. Heart Disease And the Violence of Molecular Degeneration poverty (nutritional deficiency) war (toxic and inflammatory factors) miscommunication (missing signals of abundance and inflammation resolution)

39. A Healthy Relationship With Our Heart