A major new mechanism by which increased risk of coronary artery
disease (CAD) is passed from fathers to sons has been
identified. Reporting in The Lancet, researchers who studied
over 3000 men say they have identified a common Y-chromosome
haplogroup that increases the risk of CAD by about 50%; a
haplogroup is a block of related genetic variants that tend to
be inherited together. The haplogroup I form of the Y-chromosome
associated with higher CAD risk is present in around 20% of
British men. This new observation may help explain the higher
rates of heart disease among men compared with women of the same
age. The basis of this genetic susceptibility is presumed to
rest with Y-chromosome genes that are involved in inflammation
and immunity, but more research will be needed to identify these
genes and how variants may affect heart disease. Comment:
Presently, only medical and lifestyle indicators (eg. blood
pressure, cholesterol levels, age and sex) are used for
predicting risk of heart disease. In time, info