High cholesterol has been linked to mitochondrial stress in cartilage cells – causing cell death and osteoarthritis development
Despite the essential nature of cholesterol itself, hypercholesterolemia, (excess cholesterol in the blood) causes a range of health problems and is strongly associated with increased risk of coronary artery disease. While we already know many of the risks of raised cholesterol, researchers have now linked increased blood cholesterol concentrations to osteoarthritis onset as well. Cholesterol and mitochondrial stress Using a genetic mouse model of hypercholesterolemia caused by the presence of two particular alleles of ApoE (-/- ), and a rat model of hypercholesterolemia induced by dietary intervention, researchers studied the effect of cholesterol levels on bone health. They also mimicked knee injury in both groups through surgery and observed the effect of cholesterol on recovery. Interestingly, groups that had undergone injury and demonstrated high cholesterol in particular displayed more severe osteoarthritis development – whether induced by diet or genetics.“Just when we thought all the angles on osteoarthritis had been uncovered, a new lead like this comes along. The focus of hypercholesterolemia, whether familial or sporadic, has, of course, always been on arterial disease, but here we have a fascinating new discovery”
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