“Good Cholesterol” Is Really Good

You’ve heard

all about how “good” HDL cholesterol supports a strong heart,

but a new study in Science shows that it

may also help protect the liver. A special type of HDL cholesterol called HDL3, produced in the gut, appears to

block signals that cause inflammation in the liver, say researchers from

Washington University School of Medicine. Chronic inflammation can lead to liver damage

over time, and scientists say that if they can find a way to boost levels of HDL3 in the

body (through diet or medication), it may help prevent that from happening as well as

inform new treatments for liver disease.