"I was amazed when we got our results. It was just clear-cut as could be. A single gene on the X chromosome was the main contributor to the difference in how female mice respond to the drug."
"Fish oil contains a fatty acid called DHA, which is depleted in women taking the drugs, and the supplement reverses some of the metabolic side effects of statins in female mice."
"Escape genes on the X chromosome - and Y genes as well - are revealing themselves to be key contributors to observed sex differences in conditions such as autoimmunity."
Statins, widely prescribed for cholesterol lowering, can cause muscle pain, affecting women more than men. Research by Karen Reue indicates that the X chromosome, rather than sex hormones, is responsible for this increased susceptibility. A specific gene on the X chromosome significantly influences how female mice respond to statins. Additionally, fish oil, containing DHA, may help alleviate some side effects in women. The findings highlight the importance of sex chromosomes in health and disease, revealing that certain genes can escape silencing and contribute to sex differences in various conditions.
Read at Nature
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