CVD, Obesity & Lipid Levels: Increased Health Risks
- Contrary too popular belief, new research indicates that decreased levels of ceramides, a type of fat, in blood vessel linings may contribute to cardiovascular diseases in individuals with...
- Ceramides, waxy lipids present throughout the body, regulate blood vessel function, blood pressure and prevent blood clots.
- Di Lorenzo's team previously discovered that reduced ceramide levels in healthy mice led to severe blood vessel inflammation and clot formation.
New research flips conventional wisdom: Low ceramide levels, not high, may increase cardiovascular risks in those wiht obesity and diabetes. A Weill Cornell Medicine study, published in nature Communications, reveals that these protective fats can safeguard blood vessels; though, obesity and diabetes can deplete them. Focusing on ceramide production could revolutionize treatments, addressing issues like hypertension and coronary artery disease. Discover how scientists uncovered teh intricate connection between ceramide levels, blood vessel health, and cardiometabolic conditions. Find insights on the role of proteins and potential drug interventions to restore healthy fat balances. News Directory 3 keeps you up to date on the latest health breakthroughs. Discover what’s next in this groundbreaking research.
Ceramide Levels Impact cardiovascular Health in obesity, Diabetes
Updated June 03, 2025
Contrary too popular belief, new research indicates that decreased levels of ceramides, a type of fat, in blood vessel linings may contribute to cardiovascular diseases in individuals with obesity and diabetes.The Weill Cornell Medicine study, published in nature Communications, challenges the conventional wisdom that high ceramide levels are harmful.
Ceramides, waxy lipids present throughout the body, regulate blood vessel function, blood pressure and prevent blood clots. Dr. Annarita Di Lorenzo, professor of pathology and laboratory medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine, said the study is the first to measure lipid levels in endothelial cells of a live animal model. The findings showed ceramide levels decreased in obese mice compared to lean mice.
Di Lorenzo’s team previously discovered that reduced ceramide levels in healthy mice led to severe blood vessel inflammation and clot formation. They also reported that ceramide production increases as a protective response in mice with coronary artery disease. The breakdown of ceramide produces sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P), which protects against cardiovascular disease.
The researchers found that proteins Nogo-B and ORMDL decreased ceramide and S1P production in obesity, leading to increased blood pressure, impaired vascular regulation, and higher glucose levels. These factors contribute to cardiometabolic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, coronary artery disease, and stroke.
Experiments with animal models revealed that obese mice on high-fat diets had low ceramide and S1P levels but high Nogo-B levels, exhibiting signs of inflammation, diabetes, and high blood pressure. Though, when Nogo-B was removed from blood vessel linings, vascular health improved, even with the same body weight and diabetes levels.
According to Di Lorenzo, regulating ceramide metabolism could have beneficial effects in treating cardiometabolic diseases related to obesity. “if we can identify a drug that can block Nogo-B, we could restore ceramide levels to a healthy balance,” she said, “and this would fight not only obesity and diabetes but would directly keep blood vessels functioning properly.”
What’s next
Future research will focus on identifying drugs that can effectively block Nogo-B, perhaps restoring healthy ceramide levels and improving vascular function in patients with obesity and diabetes. This could lead to new therapeutic strategies for managing cardiometabolic diseases.