Bad cholesterol inhibits fat breakdown
New research has revealed that LDL or bad cholesterol inhibits the breakdown of fat in adipocytes, or fat cells, thus suggesting that it is a regulator of fat stores.
Previous research has shown that the release of free fatty acids from adipocytes increases the synthesis of precursors of LDL cholesterol. However, Dr Johan Björkegren and colleagues at the Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, Sweden, found that LDL cholesterol slows the rate of lipolysis (fat breakdown) in adipocytes. Together, these findings suggest that there is a reciprocal link between the liver and peripheral fat regulating fat turnover, says Björkegren in a news release.
The finding also suggests that drugs, such as statins, which lower LDL cholesterol may also promote the breakdown of fat stores.
Source: Bad cholesterol inhibits the breakdown of peripheral fat.
Going to church cuts risk of death
Research suggests that regularly attending religious services can reduce the risk of death by approximately 20%.
Eliezer Schnall and colleagues studied data on the religious practices of 92,395 postmenopausal women participating in the Womens Health Initiative (WHI) Study. Results showed that people who attended a religious service at least once a week had a 20% lower risk of death from all causes, compared with women who did not attend any religious services.
Interestingly, the protection against mortality provided by religion cannot be entirely explained by expected factors that include enhanced social support of friends or family, lifestyle choices and reduced smoking and alcohol consumption, said Dr. Schnall in a news release.
Source: Study Suggests Attending Religious Services Sharply Cuts Risk of Death.