Washington, May 27 : Scientists have discovered that a newly found form of cholesterol that seems to be "ultra-bad", could lead to an increased risk of heart disease, as it is "stickier".

Researchers from the University of Warwick found that the "ultra-bad" cholesterol, called MGmin-low-density lipoprotein (LDL), is "stickier" than normal LDL, which makes it more likely to attach to the walls of arteries.

The discovery could lead to new treatments to prevent heart disease particularly in people with type 2 diabetes and the elderly.

The research, funded by the British Heart Foundation (BHF), found that when LDL attaches to artery walls it helps form the dangerous "fatty" plaques' that cause coronary heart disease (CHD).

The researchers made the discovery by creating human MGmin-LDL in the laboratory, then studying its characteristics and interactions with other important molecules in the body.

They found that MGmin-LDL is created by the addition of sugar groups to "normal" LDL - a process called glycation - making LDL smaller and denser.

By changing its shape, the sugar groups expose new regions on the surface of the LDL. These exposed regions are more likely to stick to artery walls, helping to build fatty plaques.

As fatty plaques grow they narrow arteries - reducing blood flow - and they can eventually rupture, triggering a blood clot that causes a heart attack or stroke.

"We're excited to see our research leading to a greater understanding of this type of cholesterol, which seems to contribute to heart disease in diabetics and elderly people," Dr Naila Rabbani, Associate Professor of Experimental Systems Biology at Warwick Medical School, who led the study, said.

The research was published in the journal Diabetes. (ANI)