In metabolic studies, even small amounts of trans fats in the diet were found to raise the harmful cholesterol and lower the protective type.

New evidence suggests, however, that it has an important part to play in the lowering of harmful cholesterol.

Federal health officials yesterday sharply reduced the desired levels of harmful cholesterol for Americans who are at moderate to high risk for heart disease.

Reductions in levels of harmful cholesterol, blood pressure and blood sugar - all related to the way people live - need to occur.

Trans fats are considered harmful because they both lower so-called good cholesterol and raise levels of bad cholesterol.

The gene directs the production of a protein called the low-density lipoprotein receptor, the body's sponge for harmful cholesterol.

The crucial gene dictates the production of the so-called low-density lipoprotein receptor, the body's sponge for harmful cholesterol.

As it does, it removes harmful bad cholesterol from where it doesn't belong.

Garlic is thought to help prevent clogging of the arteries by lowering levels of harmful cholesterol.

They confer no known health benefit and are known to raise the level of harmful cholesterol in the blood.