To say that elevated cholesterol is a risk factor among people who are for whatever reason predisposed to arterial inflammation IS NOT the same as saying cholesterol caused the problem.
“To say that elevated cholesterol is a risk factor among people who are for whatever reason predisposed to arterial inflammation IS NOT the same as saying cholesterol caused the problem.”
The genetic defect leading to familial hypercholesterolemia is not involved in regulation of inflammatory responses. It results specifically in high blood cholesterol (specifically LDL), and this is what predisposes all those with this disease to develop atherosclerosis. Mice with various genetic mutations in cholesterol-related genes develop atherosclerotic lesions. There are many other examples. There are clearly many contributing mechanistic factors, but cholesterol is definitely a risk factor. When the diets of people from countries that traditionally ate low fat/low cholesterol foods changed to a Western diet, the incidence of coronary disease increased markedly.