Could cholesterol levels be related to the messages sent by the brain and not just to what we eat? This is what a new study has suggested.
Researchers have discovered that cholesterol levels can be affected by the release of the hormone ghrelin, which affects hunger, calorie intake and how much energy we expend. The team noticed in mice that when the levels of ghrelin increased, so did the levels of bad cholesterol in their blood.
This had lead them to conclude that ghrelin regulates the amount of cholesterol released by the liver. A separate test showed that blocking the release of the hormone also caused cholesterol levels in the blood to rise.
The hormone has been described as a ‘remote control’ for the cholesterol travelling around the body.
The lead researcher on the project, Professor Matthias Tschoep, said that until now scientists thought that cholesterol was exclusively regulated by fats absorbed from diet or by secretions from the liver. The findings have shown for the first time that there is also a direct control system in the central nervous system.
The researchers are planning on doing tests involving humans to see if the same reaction is observed. If this is the case, it could lead to the development of a new way of treating high cholesterol.
Currently, statins are the first-line treatment given to those with high cholesterol. It is also crucial for people to take regular exercise, stay slim and eat a low-fat diet.