[mad_as_he$$]

I believe hardening of the arteries is caused by free radicals and inflammation rather then cholesterol. That said, cholesterol may be a method of letting the free radicals stick to the walls. Causality does not necessarily equal correlation. This article could well be the find of why some people have an off the charts level but eat like birds.

[CutePuppy]

Vascular inflammation plays a major role, and undoubtedly there are strong genetic components

I believe hardening of the arteries is caused by free radicals and inflammation rather then cholesterol.

Inflammation is a major but often overlooked or understated factor in many malfunctions of the body (and the mind), especially chronic ones. Genetic predisposition could be a magnifying factor but could also be only a psychosomatic factor in developing of disease or its symptoms.