Using medication to reduce adult lipid levels to those of a new-born baby is an effective way of treating cardiovascular disease, British researchers have claimed.
The conclusions come from an analyis of trials of a new combination therapy which can reduce levels below 50mg/dL.
The Imperial College, London, researchers say the findings show that reducing low density lipoprotein to these levels is "safe and beneficial."
According to their analysis, reported in the journal Circulation, every 39 mg/dL reduction in LDL levels reduced ris of cardiovascular events by 24%.
The findings come from an analysis of ten trials involving some 5,000 patients, mostly with existing cardiovascular disease.
All the participants had started with high LDL levels – with an average reading of 125 mg/dL – and many were overweight.
Some patients received fortnightly injections of alirocumab in addition to statins during the trials – leading to them achieving very low LDL levels.
Researcher Professor Kausik Ray said: “This study not only confirms that LDL can trigger heart problems, but also suggests reducing it in adults to very low levels – to those of a new-born baby – is both safe and beneficial.”
Reductions in Atherogenic Lipids and Major Cardiovascular Events: A Pooled Analysis of 10 ODYSSEY Trials Comparing Alirocumab to Control Circulation 13 December 2016; doi: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.116.024604 [abstract]
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