Health Tip Cholesterol-Lowering Vaccine that Could Prevent Heart Disease

High levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) or bad cholesterol can increase the risk of heart disease and stroke. Poor diet and lifestyle are some of the major factors that contribute to high cholesterol levels. Fat deposits in the heart and blood vessels are caused by atherosclerosis (build-up of plaque in the arteries). A cholesterol-lowering vaccine that lowers the risk of heart disease has shown promising results in mice. Human trials of the cholesterol-lowering vaccine are underway at the Medical University of Vienna.