Scientists may have found a powerful new way to lower “bad” cholesterol, which did not involve the use of statin medicines. In a recent study, researchers used tiny DNA-based molecules to cut levels of LDL (bad) cholesterol by nearly 50% in animal models. This was done without the side effects that are often linked to statins. If these results stay consistent in large human trials, the therapy could become an important option for people who cannot tolerate statins or who still have high cholesterol despite taking them. The study was led by Carles J. Ciudad and Veronica Noe from the University of Barcelona’s Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences and the Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (IN2UB), working with Nathalie Pamir at the University of Oregon in Portland (United States). It was published in the journal Biochemical Pharmacology.

High LDL cholesterol is one of the biggest risk factors for heart attacks and strokes because it leads to the build up fatty plaques in arteries. Drugs like statins work well for many, but some people suffer from muscle aches, digestive issues, or liver problems and have to stop them. However, the new approach is different. Instead of changing how the liver handles fats, it targets a specific protein in the blood that controls how much LDL stays circulating.