While cholesterol has long been the focus of heart health campaigns, new research reveals that another type of fat, called sphingolipids, also plays a critical role in the development of cardiovascular disease.
Scientists at the Salk Institute have found that trans fats—commonly found in processed and fried foods—contribute to the formation of dangerous plaques in the arteries by fueling sphingolipid production.
Their findings, published in Cell Metabolism, offer insights into how dietary fats can harm the heart beyond just cholesterol.
The Role of Sphingolipids in Heart Disease
Sphingolipids are a type of fat involved in various biological processes, including cell structure and signaling.
However, they are now emerging as key players in diseases like atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), where fatty plaques build up in the arteries, leading to strokes and heart attacks. Unlike cholesterol, sphingolipids haven’t received as much attention in heart health research—until now.
The Salk team explored how trans fats are metabolized into sphingolipids and how this process contributes to heart disease. Their study focused on an enzyme called serine palmitoyltransferase (SPT), which helps create sphingolipids from dietary fats and amino acids.
SPT appears to favor trans fats, turning them into sphingolipids that increase the production of very low-density lipoproteins (VLDL) in the liver. Excessive VLDL in the bloodstream contributes to the formation of plaques that clog arteries.
Trans Fats vs. Cis Fats: A Key Difference
Trans fats, found in foods like margarine and fried snacks, have a straight structure that makes them tightly packable—a trait that promotes plaque formation.
In contrast, cis fats, found in natural sources like fish and nuts, have a kinked structure that prevents tight packing, making them less harmful.
To test the effects of these fats, researchers fed mice diets high in either trans or cis fats but low in cholesterol. Over 16 weeks, mice on the trans fat diet showed higher levels of sphingolipids, increased VLDL production, and accelerated plaque buildup.
These mice also developed fatty livers and insulin resistance. By comparison, mice on the cis fat diet experienced weight gain but avoided severe cardiovascular problems.
A Potential New Target for Heart Disease Treatment
When researchers inhibited SPT in mice, they observed a reduction in trans fat-induced plaque formation.
This suggests that targeting SPT or its pathways could lead to new treatments for ASCVD. Current heart disease treatments, like statins, focus on lowering cholesterol. This research points to sphingolipid metabolism as another area for therapeutic development.
The findings are particularly relevant as many countries still allow trans fats in their food supplies, despite the World Health Organization’s (WHO) goal to eliminate them by 2023. As of 2024, about 4 billion people remain at risk due to non-compliance with these guidelines.
What This Means for You
For now, the researchers recommend moderation in dietary choices, especially when it comes to processed and fried foods. Trans fats, even in small amounts, can have significant impacts on heart health.
As senior researcher Christian Metallo explained, understanding how different fats are processed in the body can help pave the way for personalized medicine and more effective treatments.
The study highlights the importance of looking beyond cholesterol when addressing heart disease.
With further research, targeting sphingolipid metabolism could lead to innovative drugs that complement existing treatments, providing hope for millions at risk of cardiovascular disease worldwide.
If you care about health, please read studies about the benefits of low-dose lithium supplements, and what we know about egg intake and heart disease.
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The research findings can be found in Cell Metabolism.
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