62 | id == 62
62 | category_id == 9
62 | category_order == 6
62 | category_name == Longevity
62 | category_color == #C47AC0
62 | slug == CETP-Longevity
62 | title == Is This Cholesterol Gene Linked To Lifespan? (CETP)
62 | meta_description == The CETP gene is linked to cholesterol levels, heart health, and possibly even longevity. Learn more about this gene here!
62 | summary == <p style="text-align:justify"><strong>The <em>CETP</em> gene has been linked to heart health, which has led researchers to look at its connection to lifespan as well. Read on to learn about how <em>CETP</em> works and its effect on longevity!</strong></p>
62 | overall_score_text == Longevity Score (based on CETP gene)
62 | image == https://sd-selfdecode-assets-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/background/CETP_Longevity.jpg
62 | author_id == 8
62 | author_name == Mathew Eng
62 | author_title == PharmD
62 | author_order == 40
62 | author_photo == https://sd-selfdecode-assets-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/author-photo/Mathew.jpg
62 | author_intro == <p><strong>Mathew received his PharmD from the University of Hawaii and an undergraduate degree in Biology from the University of Washington.</strong></p>    <p>Mathew is a licensed pharmacist with clinical experience in oncology, infectious disease, and diabetes management. He has a passion for personalized patient care and believes that education is essential to living a healthy life. His goal is to motivate individuals to find ways to manage their chronic conditions.</p>
62 | reviewer_id == 4
62 | reviewer_name == Matt Carland
62 | reviewer_title == PhD
62 | medical_reviewer_id == 11
62 | medical_reviewer_name == Puya Yazdi
62 | medical_reviewer_title == MD
62 | publish_date == 2019
62 | publish_date == 10
62 | publish_date == 24
62 | avg_rating == 4.5
62 | tags_id == 138
62 | tags_name == Atherosclerosis
62 | tags_id == 192
62 | tags_name == Cardiovascular Disease
62 | tags_id == 190
62 | tags_name == CETP Gene
62 | tags_id == 152
62 | tags_name == Cholesterol
62 | tags_id == 136
62 | tags_name == HDL
62 | tags_id == 191
62 | tags_name == Heart Health
62 | tags_id == 153
62 | tags_name == LDL
62 | tags_id == 101
62 | tags_name == Longevity
62 | permissions_favorite == False
62 | permissions_rate == False
62 | content_article == <table style="width: 90%; border-collapse: collapse; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" border="1" cellpadding="10"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="width: 100%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Note:</strong> The </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">CETP</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> gene is analyzed and discussed in our </span><em><strong><a href="https://get.selfdecode.com/gene-reports/fitness/">Fitness DNA Wellness Report</a></strong></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">, along with many other genes. If you're looking for a comprehensive report on weight loss, muscle building, and exercise motivation, check it out!</span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</p> <h2 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>What Is The <em>CETP</em> Gene?</strong></h2> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">CETP</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> gene codes for a protein called CETP, which stands for </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">cholesteryl ester transfer protein</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">. CETP is responsible for controlling the levels of </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/cholesterol/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">cholesterol</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/triglycerides/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">fat</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> in the blood, and which can help remove excess cholesterol out of the body [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12588754"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Research has identified several genetic variants in </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">CETP</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> that may be associated with longevity. According to some studies, these variants may be relatively more common in people who live exceptionally long lives &mdash; although the overall evidence is still mixed, as we&rsquo;ll see below [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14559957"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23977315"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">CETP</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> gene codes for the CETP protein, which helps regulate cholesterol levels in the body.</span></span></p> <h2 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>How Does CETP Work?</strong></h2> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Before discussing the mechanism behind CETP and its role in managing cholesterol levels, it&rsquo;s important to understand a few terms [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27150091"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">]:</span></p> <ul style="text-align: justify;"> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/hdl-cholesterol/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">HDL</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">: short for </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">high-density lipoprotein</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">, often referred to as &ldquo;good cholesterol&rdquo; because it helps remove cholesterol out of the blood.</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/ldl-cholesterol/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">LDL</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">: short for </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">low-density lipoprotein</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">, often referred to as &ldquo;bad cholesterol&rdquo; because high LDL levels can cause a buildup of cholesterol in the arteries.</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Cholesteryl ester</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">: cholesterol is converted into cholesteryl ester so that it can be transported around the body more easily.</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><a href="https://www.selfhacked.com/blog/triglycerides/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Triglycerides</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">: a common type of fat in the body which is primarily used for energy.</span></li> </ul> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">As mentioned earlier, CETP is responsible for redistributing cholesterol in the blood. More specifically, CETP helps swap a cholesteryl ester that is attached to HDL with triglycerides that are attached to LDL. This LDL that is newly-bound to cholesteryl ester can then move to the liver, where it is eliminated from the body [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12588754"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400; background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">The CETP protein works by transferring cholesterol from HDL to LDL, where it is eventually removed from the body by the liver.</span></p> <h3 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>The Role Of CETP In Heart Health</strong></h3> <p style="text-align: justify;"><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Atherosclerosis</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> is a disease that occurs when cholesterol and fat accumulate to create hard &ldquo;plaque&rdquo; in the blood vessels, which makes them stiffer and more prone to damage. This plaque buildup can also disrupt blood flow, and can eventually lead to increased risk of heart attacks, strokes, and other cardiovascular issues. However, there is debate on whether CETP activity actually increases or decreases the risk of atherosclerosis [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30879338"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">On the one hand, CETP activity plays a role in cholesterol removal. The elimination of excess cholesterol may be an important factor in the prevention of atherosclerosis [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4790583/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5962737/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">On the other hand, studies show that </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">reducing</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> CETP activity may increase HDL and lower LDL, which are commonly regarded as ways to prevent atherosclerosis development. Reduced CETP activity may also increase the particle size of both HDL and LDL. Larger particle sizes are linked to lower rates of cardiovascular disease because they may not be able to penetrate into arterial tissue and form plaque as effectively as smaller particles [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4790583/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4255097/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14559957"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Research has revealed highly conflicting results. Both CETP activity and inhibition have been associated with both increased and decreased rates of atherosclerosis and heart disease [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4790583/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4255097/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4149245/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400; background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">There is conflicting evidence on whether increased or decreased CETP activity is beneficial for cardiovascular health.</span></p> <h2 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Does <em>CETP</em> Affect Lifespan?</strong></h2> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Certain variants in </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">CETP </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">are associated with longevity in some studies. According to researchers, this life-extending effect may be due to improved cholesterol levels, which may help prevent a number of heart conditions [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14559957"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Longevity research has focused on two particular variants. The &lsquo;GG&rsquo; genotype in rs5882 (also known as the &ldquo;I405V&rdquo; polymorphism) and the &lsquo;AA&rsquo; genotype in rs708272 (also called the &ldquo;TaqIB&rdquo; polymorphism) have each been associated with lower CETP activity and longer lifespan [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14559957"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">However, the results of these longevity studies are not yet conclusive. In the following sections, we&rsquo;ll review some of the supporting evidence, as well as the conflicting data [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14559957"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23977315"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15888337"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <h3 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Supporting Evidence</strong></h3> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">A study looking at 213 Ashkenazi Jews (a group that originates from Eastern Europe) revealed that the &lsquo;GG&rsquo; genotype in </span><a href="../../snp/rs5882/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">rs5882</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> is much more common in those that live exceptionally long lives. Another study looking at Hainan Chinese also found that this &lsquo;GG&rsquo; genotype was more prevalent in those that live past 100 years old [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14559957"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27633301"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Similarly, other studies of Chinese individuals from Hainan and Bama Zhuang have found that the &lsquo;AA&rsquo; genotype in </span><a href="../../snp/rs708272/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">rs708272</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> is significantly more common in people who are 100 or more years old [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27633301"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3298723/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400; background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">Studies have found that the &lsquo;GG&rsquo; genotype in rs5882 and the &lsquo;AA&rsquo; genotype in rs708272 are associated with longer lifespans in certain Jewish and Chinese populations.</span></p> <h3 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Conflicting Evidence</strong></h3> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">However, there is also research that suggests that the </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">CETP</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> gene may have no significant effect on lifespan at all. For example, several studies have concluded that the &lsquo;GG&rsquo; genotype in rs5882 has no association with longevity in other ethnic populations, including Japanese, Han Chinese, Danish, and Italian groups [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9194754"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24242673"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26946122"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15888337"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">On top of that, a meta-analysis of 8 studies found that the &lsquo;GG&rsquo; genotype in rs5882 may actually be associated with </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">shorter</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> lifespans in Han Chinese [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23977315"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">For the SNP rs708272, there is evidence suggesting that the other genotypes (&lsquo;GG&rsquo; or &lsquo;GA&rsquo;) may actually be responsible for the reported longevity effects, rather than the previously mentioned &lsquo;AA&rsquo; genotype. On the other hand, there are also studies that suggest this SNP has no effect on longevity at all &mdash; so it&rsquo;s hard to draw any firm conclusions [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27633301"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3298723/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4087084/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Overall, then, it&rsquo;s possible that whatever effects these SNPs might have on lifespan may depend on the specific ethnic group being studied.</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> Therefore, more research will still be needed to figure out whether these findings apply to other groups &mdash; and in the meantime, you should keep these caveats in mind when looking at your own genotypes for </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">CETP</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> SNPs.</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400; background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">There are some studies reporting that the &lsquo;GG&rsquo; genotype in rs5882 or the &lsquo;AA&rsquo; genotype in rs708272 may not actually be associated with longevity after all, or may even negatively impact lifespan &mdash; and this conflicting evidence should be kept in mind when trying to interpret SNPs in this gene.</span></p> <h2 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Your <em>CETP</em> Results For Longevity</strong></h2> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">You can see your genotypes for these two SNPs in the table below. However, keep in mind that these associations are based on studies from certain ethnic populations &mdash; so you should interpret your results with caution if you are not descended from one of these specific groups!</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;">*6708616099666942*</p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Primary SNPs:</strong></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>CETP <a href="../../snp/rs5882/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">rs5882</a>:</strong></p> <ul style="text-align: justify;"> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;A&rsquo; = No association with longevity.</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;G&rsquo; = More common in those with longer lifespans in certain populations.</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">About 24% of people have the &lsquo;GG&rsquo; genotype.</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The association between the &lsquo;GG&rsquo; genotype and longevity has only been found in certain Jewish and Chinese groups.</span></li> </ul> <p style="text-align: left;"><strong>CETP <a href="../../snp/rs708272/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">rs708272</a>:</strong></p> <ul style="text-align: justify;"> <li style="font-weight: 400; text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;G&rsquo; = No association with longevity.</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;A&rsquo; = More common in those with longer lifespans in certain populations.</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">About 15% of people have the &lsquo;AA&rsquo; genotype.</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The association between the &lsquo;AA&rsquo; genotype and longevity has only been found in certain Chinese populations.<br /></span></li> </ul> <p style="text-align: justify;">*5728195181189615*</p> <h2 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Recommendations To Improve Longevity</strong></h2> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Before implementing any of the following strategies, always speak with your doctor first about your options. There may be unexpected interactions with your current medications or health conditions.</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>*4979991477454397*</strong></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br />It&rsquo;s not entirely understood how </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">CETP</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> activity affects your heart health or longevity. However, there are other clear ways to improve your HDL and LDL levels, which is how </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">CETP</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> variants are proposed to improve longevity. In the following sections, we&rsquo;ll detail some of these strategies.</span></p> <h3 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Lifestyle</strong></h3> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">According to the American Heart Association (AHA), a heart-healthy lifestyle reduces the risk of&nbsp; atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease at all ages. In fact, lifestyle and diet changes are often the first strategies that doctors use to manage cardiovascular risk [</span><a href="https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIR.0000000000000625"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/top-14-proven-health-benefits-exercise-references-mechanisms/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Exercise</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> is great for lowering LDL, increasing HDL, and improving your overall cardiovascular health. The AHA recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate physical activity or 75 minutes of vigorous physical activity each week [</span><a href="https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIR.0000000000000625"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The AHA also recommends against the use of tobacco, which is a major risk factor for heart disease. According to some studies, HDL levels can increase by 30% after just 3 weeks of quitting smoking [</span><a href="https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIR.0000000000000625"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4177613/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400; background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">For a heart-healthy lifestyle, exercise regularly, and quit any tobacco use.</span></p> <h3 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Diet</strong></h3> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The foods that you eat have a direct impact on your cholesterol levels. More specifically, foods high in </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/saturatedfats-low-carb-diet-vs-high-carb-diet/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">saturated</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> or trans fats can significantly increase LDL levels, and should be avoided. For a heart-healthy diet, the American Heart Association recommends eating [</span><a href="https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIR.0000000000000625"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">]:</span></p> <ul style="text-align: justify;"> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Vegetables and fruits</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Whole grains and legumes (like peas, soybeans, and peanuts)</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Low-fat dairy products</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Low-fat poultry (without the skin)</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Fish and other seafood</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Healthy cooking oils (such as olive, canola, or peanut oils)</span></li> </ul> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">It&rsquo;s also important to note that consistency is key to getting any dietary benefits. For example, medical practitioners have said that the lack of consistency (&ldquo;</span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">poor treatment compliance</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">&rdquo;) is one of the main factors that often limits the improvements that people see from being put on a heart-healthy diet &mdash; so no &ldquo;cheat days&rdquo;!</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400; background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">Avoid foods high in saturated or trans fats, as these can significantly increase your cholesterol levels.</span></p> <h3 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Supplements</strong></h3> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Always be sure to have a discussion with your doctor before starting any supplements, as they may interfere with any current medications, could cause unwanted side-effects, or could have unexpected interactions with any other health conditions you may have.</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">According to some organizations, several natural products may potentially improve cholesterol levels, and could therefore potentially benefit certain groups of patients when taken consistently [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27956024"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">]. However, keep in mind that supplements should </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">never</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> be used to replace any cholesterol-lowering medications that have been officially prescribed to you by a doctor!</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Some natural products that are probably effective at lowering cholesterol include [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27956024"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5429323/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24997485"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">]:</span></p> <ul style="text-align: justify;"> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Stanols</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">sterols</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (substances found in plants)</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Fiber</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/red-yeast-rice/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Red Yeast Rice</span></a></li> </ul> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">For a more complete list of cholesterol-lowering supplements, take a look at our </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/cholesterol/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">article on cholesterol</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p>
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62 | content_learn_more_5728195181189615_text == Based on the variants we looked at, your CETP genotype is somewhat associated with longevity in certain ethnic groups. However, this doesn't necessarily reflect your overall longevity — just one gene related to it. A heart-healthy lifestyle and diet can help; keep scrolling to find out more!
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rsIDs = rs5882,rs708272
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