In addition, the body forms calcium to wall off the inflamed area in the artery. This brittle, calcified area can be sheared off as blood flows through the artery, resulting in injury and the formation of a blood clot. Oxidized LDL may also play another dangerous role by impairing nitric oxide, a chemical that helps relax the blood vessels, allowing blood to flow freely. HDL serves to remove cholesterol from the walls of the arteries and return it to the liver. Triglycerides Evidence now suggests that triglycerides may be major trouble-makers for the heart.
Triglycerides are fat molecules packed along with cholesterol in the lipoprotein transport spheres.
High triglyceride levels displace HDL cholesterol. Triglycerides may also be responsible for the development of blood clots that form and block the arteries, resulting in a heart attack. The molecules have a structure similar to LDL and carry a protein that may deter the body's ability to dissolve blood clots and so may contribute to heart attacks. More research is needed. Some research indicates that they may be an important risk factor for coronary artery disease.