Some people have a rare gene that "dramatically" cuts the level of fats in the blood, researchers reported last night.
About one in 500 people carry the gene, which gives them low levels of blood fats called triglycerides – suggesting they have a low risk of developing heart disease, according to the British researchers.
Researchers hope the findings may help them learn more about the genes behind high risk of heart disease.
The role of the APOC3 gene variant was uncovered in a study of 4,000 healthy people in the UK, reported in Nature Communications.
Researcher Dr Nicholas Timpson, from Bristol University, said: "Thanks to the quantity of data available through the UK10K Project and because of the relatively large effect of this variant, we have been able to find a rare genetic variant that has clinical relevance."
Fellow researcher Professor Steve Humphries, of University College, London, said: “Once we can understand the mechanism of the protective function of this variant, we can try to use this information to develop novel therapies to help those at risk of cardiovascular disease.”
The British Heart Foundation said the findings were "important."
Associate medical director Dr Mike Knapton said: “This is an important paper and one of the first studies to show a large effect of a rare variant in a gene.
"This study has the potential to help us understand the genetic basis of coronary heart disease and offer therapies in the future to those at risk."
Timpson, N, et al. A low-frequency variant near APOC3 is associated with plasma triglyceride and VLDL levels in Europeans. Nature Communications 16 September 2014; doi: 10.1038/NCOMMS5871
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