Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 5, 2026

Differential Effects of Lipid-lowering Drugs in Modulating Morphology of Cholesterol Particles
Published on: November 10, 2017
Lipids and Lipid-Lowering Drugs With Risk of Intervertebral Disc Degeneration: A Mendelian Randomization Study
1Department of Spine Surgery, Ningbo No. 6 Hospital, 1059 East Zhongshan Road, Ningbo Zhejiang, 315000, China, nbdlyy.com.
Abstract:
This study examined whether circulating lipid traits and lipid-lowering drug targets are causally associated with intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) using a Mendelian randomization (MR) framework. We analyzed summary-level data from genome-wide association studies (GWASs) covering apolipoproteins, lipid parameters, and IVDD. Univariable analysis revealed that inherently elevated high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) correlated with reduced IVDD susceptibility. By contrast, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), triglycerides (TGs), apolipoprotein A-I (Apoa-I), and apolipoprotein B (Apob) did not remain significant after Bonferroni correction. Upon adjusting for body mass index (BMI) in a multivariable framework, the protective link between HDL-C and IVDD held strong, whereas LDL-C, TG, and Apob remained nonsignificant. Summary data-based MR and drug-target MR analyses further suggested a significant association between NPC1L1 gene expression and IVDD susceptibility. Overall, these results highlight the potential involvement of lipid pathways in disc degeneration and justify further biological and clinical investigation.
Related Concept Videos
Degenerative Disc Disease I: Introduction
Lipid-Lowering Drugs: Statins and Miscellaneous Agents
Herniated Intervertebral Disc l: Introduction
Degenerative Disc Disease ll: Pathophysiology
Cholesterol: Significance and Regulation
Considering cholesterol and...
Lipid-derived Compounds in the Human Body
Fat-soluble Vitamins
Fat-soluble vitamins, including vitamins A, D, E, and K, are required in minimal quantities, but their deficiencies can lead to severely abnormal physiological conditions. For example, vitamin A deficiency can cause night blindness, dry skin, delayed...