Genetic link in heart disease test
Fathers with a common genetic variant can pass an increased risk of heart disease on to their sons, a study has shown.
The danger lies in a particular version of the male Y chromosome, only present in men.
Scientists found that a version of the chromosome carried by 15pc to 20pc of British men was linked to a 50pc higher chance of coronary artery disease. CAD narrows blood vessels and typically affects men 10 years earlier than women.
The new research involved more than 3,000 men.
Analysis showed that 90pc of the men carried one of two common versions of the Y chromosomes, called haplogroup I and haplogroup R1b1b2.
Men in haplogroup I category had a 50pc higher risk of coronary artery disease.
- John von Radowitz
Irish Independent
