Research suggests heart disease risk may be inherited
Scientists from the University of Leicester have recently discovered that heart disease in men can be genetically inherited, passed from father to son via the Y chromosome.
The team of researchers carried out genetic tests on 3,233 biologically unrelated British men, finding that 90% possessed one of two common versions of Y chromosome – named haplogroup I and haplogroup R1b1b2. The risk of coronary artery disease among the men carrying the haplogroup I version was found to be 50% higher than in other men. Somewhat alarmingly, as many as 1 in 5 British men carry this version of Y.
Prior to the study, experts already knew that men tend to develop heart disease a decade earlier than women, on average. As a result, by the age of 40, the lifetime risk of heart disease is one in two for men and one in three for women. Of course, lifestyle factors like smoking and blood pressure are important contributors, but the results of the study suggest that the Y chromosome can also play a role in coronary artery disease. The scientists say they now need to try and pinpoint precisely which genes on the Y chromosome are responsible, although they suspect these genes exert their effect by upsetting a man’s immune system.
Dr Maciej Tomaszewski, a clinical senior lecturer at the University of Leicester’s Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, said: “We are very excited about these findings as they put the Y chromosome on the map of genetic susceptibility to coronary artery disease. Doctors usually associated the Y chromosome with maleness and fertility but this shows it is also implicated in heart disease.” He hopes that the discovery could lead to new ways to treat and prevent heart disease in men, as well as a genetic test to spot those greatest risk.
Dr Hélène Wilson, of the British Heart Foundation (who part-funded the work), said: “Coronary heart disease is the cause of heart attacks, which claim the lives of thousands of men each year. Lifestyle choices such as poor diet and smoking are major causes, but inherited factors carried in DNA are also part of the picture. The next step is to identify specifically which genes are responsible and how they might increase heart attack risk.”
Dr Tomaszewski concluded by suggesting men should focus on risk factors that they already have the power to modify themselves, such as getting enough exercise and eating a healthy diet to keep their blood pressure and cholesterol down. But if genetics do play a part, it becomes even more vital to ensure that you have the adequate financial protection in place should you find yourself faced with the misfortune of ill health. William Russell’s Global Health, Global Life and Global Income plans provide vital protection for expatriates, offering both security and peace of mind. Click here to find out more.
Source – BBC News 9 Feb 12
