Blocking Dietary Cholesterol
This article was originally published in Start Up
Executive Summary
One way to block dietary cholesterol is by inhibiting the microsomal triglyceride transfer protein (MTP). MTP is one mechanism used by the liver and by cells in the gut wall (called enterocytes) to process triglycerides and cholesterol for delivery into the systemic circulation. However, past attempts to inhibit MTP (including at Pfizer, BMS, and Bayer) have faltered because of liver toxicity-fatty liver resulting from overaccumulation of LDL. Scientists at Surface Logix think their approach may fare better because it only blocks MTP in the intestine. (Sidebar to "After Statins, What Next?")