health and medicine question #565

Serine, a 16 year old female from Singapore asks on January 20, 2002,

Q:

Are there any developments in the research on elastin in coronary heart disease? Is there any way in which we can prevent our bodies from losing elastin as we age? Is there any way in which we can cure deficiency in elastin in arteries?
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the answer

Michael Poling answered on March 10, 2004, A:

At this point, the link between elastin and CHD is theoretical only. Early experiments have shown that arteries deficient in elastin take a shape (thick wall, narrow center) that obstructs blood flow. We all lose elastin as we age. Further experiments will show whether this age-related loss of elastin is related to the development of coronary artery disease.

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