For the research proposal, I essentially proposed, or requested the need for further research on a topic of my choice, in this case, hypercholesterolemia. This was followed by a critical research paper.

 

Introduction: High cholesterol or hypercholesterolemia occurs when there is too much lipids or fats in your blood. Having high cholesterol is very common and can lead to more serious health complications like heart attack and stroke. Having high cholesterol or hypercholesterolemia can be a result of poor lifestyle but also inheritance in the form of  familial hypercholesterolemia. “Familial hypercholesterolemia is an inherited condition that causes high levels of LDL (low density lipoprotein) cholesterol levels beginning at birth, and heart attacks at an early age.” (Learning About Familial Hypercholesterolemia 2013) Certain ethnic groups are more vulnerable to having hypercholesterolemia due to their diets of their culture. The sorts of high fat diet of one generation can result in the next generations being at a higher risk regardless of what they are eating. I hypothesize that due to the genetic makeup and medical family histories of hispanic men and non-hispanic white man, hispanic men will have a higher cholesterol levels than non hispanic white men when consuming the same diets.

Background: In previous research, the intake of eggs were used to see how it affects cholesterol levels in study groups. They “discuss how eggs and dietary cholesterol affect serum cholesterol concentrations, as well as more advanced lipoprotein measures, such as lipoprotein particle profiles and HDL metabolism … clinical studies examining the effects of added dietary cholesterol via egg intake on serum lipids during weight maintenance in healthy and hyperlipidemic populations” in healthy boys and girls, healthy women, healthy men, healthy older adults, obese men, and diabetic patients . (Blesso & Luz 2018) When conducting their study they did not consider the race of these men or consider if high cholesterol was a mental issue in their family history.

The intake of eggs again were used in study in another study where they “studied the effects of four levels of dietary cholesterol intake on fasting lipid, lipoprotein, and apoprotein levels, as well as postprandial lipid levels, in a group of young, healthy men who were otherwise eating a low-fat, American Heart Association step 1 diet. Twenty young, healthy men completed a randomized, four-way crossover design study to test the effects of an American Heart Association step 1 diet containing 0, 1, 2, or 4 eggs per day.”  (Departments of Medicine and Pediatrics 1994) Yet again they did not take into account the race of these young men and what that would mean for the variation of level for the same number of eggs that are consumed a day.

 

Methods:

American Heart Association News. (March 2016). New calculations expose racial differences for

inherited high cholesterol. American Heart Association, Inc.

In the article “New calculations expose racial differences for inherited high cholesterol” it details  the investigation between race and hypercholesterolemia. It also discussed familial hypercholesterolemia and the risks that it poses on certain ethnicities. There was a lot of emphasis on Mexican American men having the highest cases of high cholesterol. My hypothesis is supported by the following text where “data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also show that Mexican-American men are more likely to have traditional high cholesterol than their white and black counterparts.”  (American Heart Association News 2016) This piece of evidence shows that race does play a role in the likelihood of high cholesterol.

 

Salamon, M. (May 2018). The Connection Between Race and High Cholesterol. VeryWell

Health.

In the article, “The Connection Between Race and High Cholesterol”  it discussed the patterns of race and hypercholesterolemia. It also mentions the risks that come with hypercholesterolemia such as increase in heart disease, obesity, and diabetes.  The article supports my hypothesis  when it states that, “non-Hispanic white men have the least incidence of high LDL cholesterol at 29.4% while non-Hispanic black men have 30.7% and Mexican American men have the highest incidence at 38.8%.”(Salamon 2018) This excerpt shows that Mexican/ Hispanic men have a higher level of cholesterol oppose to non-hispanic white men.  Although these levels can be caused by their differing diets it can also be a result of familial hypercholesterolemia.  

 

(Dec 2013). Learning About Familial Hypercholesterolemia. National Human Genome Research

Institute.

The article “Learning About Familial Hypercholesterolemia” talks about what familial hypercholesterolemia is and what are symptoms of the having familial hypercholesterolemia. It addresses the issue “Familial hypercholesterolemia [being]  an inherited condition that causes high levels of LDL (low density lipoprotein) cholesterol levels beginning at birth, and heart attacks at an early age.” The article also says that “two major symptoms and signs of familial hypercholesterolemia are that high levels of total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol and a strong family history of high levels of total and LDL cholesterol and/or early heart attack.” (Learning About Familial Hypercholesterolemia 2013). These sources imply that two men who follow the same diet, can still have a major difference in cholesterol levels depending upon their race, and family history when it comes to cholesterol, furthermore supporting my hypothesis.

Outcomes: Hypercholesterolemia is a dangerous health issue that can be the cause of so much more harm. Hypercholesterolemia is also bias towards certain race and ethnics groups and makes it harder for them to maintain a healthy lifestyle oppose to other ethnicities. I anticipate the result from my proposed research to show that this health issue is hard to avoid for particular groups of people due to their race and family history of hypercholesterolemia. My goal is also that results from this research can provide a better understanding to patients and physicians of how to maintain healthy lifestyle, be less at risk for other health problems and end a cycle of familial hypercholesterolemia within families.

 

Sources

(Dec 2013). Learning About Familial Hypercholesterolemia. National Human Genome Research Institute. Retrieved from https://www.genome.gov/25520184/learning-about-familial-hypercholesterolemia/

American Heart Association News.  (March 2016). American Heart Association, Inc.  Retrieved from https://newsarchive.heart.org/new-calculations-expose-racial-differences-inherited-high-cholestrol/.

Beckerman, J. (July 2018). Understanding Cholesterol Numbers. WebMD Medical Reference. Retrieved from https://www.webmd.com/cholesterol-management/guide/understanding-numbers#2.

Blesso, Christopher N. & Fernandez, Maria Luz. (April 2018) Dietary Cholesterol, Serum Lipids, and Heart Disease: Are Eggs Working for or Against You? Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Connecticut. (4): 426. Retrieved from. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5946211/.

Departments of Medicine and Pediatrics. (April 1994). A Dose-Response Study of the Effects of Dietary Cholesterol on Fasting and Postprandial Lipid and Lipoprotein Metabolism in Healthy Young Men. Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. 14(4): 576–586.Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3292202/.

Salamon, M. (May 2018). The Connection Between Race and High Cholesterol. VeryWell Health.Retrieved from https://www.verywellhealth.com/race-and-cholesterol-is-there-a-connection-698285.