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Amish Community Immune to Heart Disease, May Lead to Preventative Drugs
FOXNews.com ^ | Friday, December 12, 2008 | Reuters

Posted on 12/12/2008 1:18:15 PM PST by metmom

WASHINGTON — A rare genetic abnormality found in people in an insular Amish community protects them from heart disease, a discovery that could lead to new drugs to prevent heart ailments, U.S. researchers said on Thursday.

About 5 percent of Old Order Amish people in Pennsylvania's Lancaster County have only one working copy rather than the normal two of a gene that makes a protein that slows the breakdown of triglycerides, a type of fat that circulates in the blood, the researchers wrote in the journal Science.

"People who have the mutation all have low triglycerides," said Toni Pollin of the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore, who led the study.

(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: amish; cholesterol; heart; triglycerides
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To: uncbob

My grandmother lived to be 95 or so. She was overweight and I can only imagine what her cholesterol readings were.

I don’t think that my insurance will cover a consultation with the dr to just discuss the topic but I certainly will look into this other test the other FReeper mentioned next time I’m in for a cold or stitches on a sliced up finger :)


41 posted on 12/12/2008 2:24:26 PM PST by metmom (Welfare was never meant to be a career choice.)
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To: Gator113

*sigh*. I have food allergy issues and some other food reactions, and can’t eat most any fruits or vegetables.

I hear you.


42 posted on 12/12/2008 2:26:20 PM PST by metmom (Welfare was never meant to be a career choice.)
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To: metmom

My ratio (LDL/Tot Chol) is really low too....but, I still have the small pattern B LDL...I think you might want to look into VLDL .....hope that helps.....I was told to keep exercising....and drinking red wine and eating chocolate....LOL....evidently they are good for LDL


43 posted on 12/12/2008 2:27:44 PM PST by goodnesswins (CAPITALISM is FUN.........SOCIALISM SUCKS - pass it on.)
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To: metmom
Mandatory "Amish Paradise" Link.
44 posted on 12/12/2008 2:28:12 PM PST by Joe 6-pack (Que me amat, amet et canem meum)
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To: CholeraJoe

I tried fish oil and didn’t feel good when I took it. I tried Evening Primrose Oil and think I reacted to it but it could have been something else.

At this point, I’m wary of taking anything out of the ordinary for me. I’ve yet to figure out what my reactions are, if they are indeed allergic. If they’re not, I have no clue and the doctors have not been much help.

But I don’t fancy any trips to the ER for anaphylactic shock. And even if the reactions aren’t that bad, I feel so crappy for a couple days, that it’s almost not worth the risk.


45 posted on 12/12/2008 2:30:47 PM PST by metmom (Welfare was never meant to be a career choice.)
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To: goodnesswins

What’s VLDL? I’ve seen that mentioned.


46 posted on 12/12/2008 2:33:28 PM PST by metmom (Welfare was never meant to be a career choice.)
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To: metmom

RE: VLDL...here’s what Mayo Clinic says about it...I noted what they said about alcohol intake, too....whatever...different docs....HA.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/vldl-cholesterol/AN01335/


47 posted on 12/12/2008 3:01:28 PM PST by goodnesswins (CAPITALISM is FUN.........SOCIALISM SUCKS - pass it on.)
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To: metmom

I lowered my bad stuff greatly with flax seed capsules. Didn’t go anything for my tris though


48 posted on 12/12/2008 3:23:58 PM PST by Rannug
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To: goodnesswins

Thanks. My BP is fine, I’m not diabetic.
I’ve had liver function tests and thyroid tests and everything comes back normal. The ONLY thing I have is high LDL. It doesn’t make much sense to have high LDL, high, HDL, low TG, and no other health issues.

That’s what really makes me wonder exactly what kind of risk factors I really have.

And besides, if the cholesterol doesn’t get me, a bus could.


49 posted on 12/12/2008 3:26:50 PM PST by metmom (Welfare was never meant to be a career choice.)
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To: Rannug

I’ll look into that. I’ll see if I can get the flax seed itself and try little bits at a time to see if it bothers me.


50 posted on 12/12/2008 3:28:35 PM PST by metmom (Welfare was never meant to be a career choice.)
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To: BGHater

Exactly.


51 posted on 12/12/2008 3:34:43 PM PST by ConservativeMind (What's "Price Gouging"? Should government force us to sell to the 15th highest bidder on eBay?)
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To: metmom

No doctor could ever talk me into taking a statin.


52 posted on 12/12/2008 3:35:46 PM PST by Conservativegreatgrandma (When the righteous rule, the people rejoice; when the wicked rule the people mourn. Proverbs 29;2)
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To: Conservativegreatgrandma

I would have to be absolutely convinced that my life was literally on the line if I didn’t take it. But since it’s not in the same category as antihistamines or an Epi-Pen, he’s going to have an awfully hard time.


53 posted on 12/12/2008 3:38:31 PM PST by metmom (Welfare was never meant to be a career choice.)
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To: Kackikat

That’s exactly my thoughts! No need to develop a new drug, develop a ‘lifestyle change’ so you don’t need the drugs!


54 posted on 12/12/2008 3:44:02 PM PST by SFC Chromey (We are at war with Islamofascists inside and outside our borders, now ACT LIKE IT!)
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To: gorush

“We just call him ‘TV.’ “

And his plug needs to be pulled.


55 posted on 12/12/2008 3:46:09 PM PST by RKBA Democrat (Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner!)
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To: SFC Chromey

The drugs are developed BECAUSE people won’t do a lifestyle change. It’s easier to take medicine.


56 posted on 12/12/2008 3:47:08 PM PST by metmom (Welfare was never meant to be a career choice.)
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To: metmom
and my HDL is high

My doctor tried the statin route one me...got backaches and quit before the first bottle ran out. I bought some Niacin at Sam's, which got the cholesterol down in the normal range.. cheaper too.

57 posted on 12/12/2008 4:03:06 PM PST by DeFault User
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To: metmom; goodnesswins

FWIW, I am on statins and my cholesterol is 131 (down from a high of 260). But all they did was lower my LDL a lot. They do nothing to increase HDL or lower triglycerides. My HDL is very low. My Triglycerides are quite high.

I started on the statins, along with beta blockers and Plavix, because I had a clogged artery and a heart attack. I had emergency angioplasty and stent placement.

I am male, was a smoker (I quit in the hospital ICU ward and never lit one since my release).

I do get blood tests regularly now, my liver numbers are high because of all the medication. It is a concern for me but not my cardiologist. Without boring you with too many other details, I think the cliche “diet and exercise” is right. My diet is good, but I don’t exercise hardly at all. I spend 8 hours a week in the car driving to and from work, and work 10 hours a day, I just don’t squeeze in time on the bicycle which I should do. 30 minutes 3-4 days a week raising my heart rate on an exercise bike would probably fix the remaining issues for me, and everyone, by raising my LDL They might even allow me to get off the statins.

I guess it will be my new years resolution. Come back to me in June and I’ll let you know if I did it and if it worked :-)


58 posted on 12/12/2008 4:09:34 PM PST by monkeyshine
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To: metmom
I grew up with lots of Amish people and never saw a fat one of any age or sex under the age of about fifty.
59 posted on 12/12/2008 4:19:48 PM PST by hinckley buzzard
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To: Lobbyist
Besides the Amish eat a lot of carbs.

Sure do. My neighbors had a potato bin in the barn that lasted both our families all year. They also make liberal use of lard btw, which is probably why their bakery tastes so good.

60 posted on 12/12/2008 4:24:47 PM PST by hinckley buzzard
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