Kevin C Maki, PhD, CLS, FNLA, Investigator at Great Lakes Clinical Trials (GLCT) and Chief Science Officer at the Midwest Center for Metabolic & Cardiovascular Research (MC-MCR) recently participated on a panel of independent experts, which reaffirmed the importance of setting cholesterol goals for the prevention of heart attack and stroke. The National Lipid Association (NLA) released the new recommendations in a paper published in the Journal of Clinical Lipidology (2014) 8, 473–488.
The recommendations highlight the importance of doctors and patients setting cholesterol goals and focusing on patient’s risk and risk factors, rather than on specific categories of medication. The recommendations take into account that each patient’s unique medical and personal history requires a multifaceted approach to prevention and treatment.
The NLA panel’s consensus emphasizes that a more comprehensive measure of cholesterol-related risk called non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C) is a better primary target for treatment than the traditionally reported LDL-C, which is commonly referred to as the “bad cholesterol.” The non-HDL cholesterol is simply the difference between the total cholesterol concentration and the HDL, or “good cholesterol,” and can be obtained in the non-fasting state without additional cost.
“Our research clinic is committed to investigating new treatments and therapies for the management of cholesterol levels,” commented Steve Satek, President of Great Lakes Clinical Trials. “We are pleased to have someone with Dr. Maki’s expertise on our team as a service to our patients and pharmaceutical/nutritional clients.”
If you are a patient interested in setting up an appointment for a free cholesterol screen, please click here. In addition, pharmaceutical and nutrition clients can call our clinic at (773) 275-3500 to set up a time to speak wit Dr. Maki directly.