The Moment Everyone Dreads at the Doctor’s Office
You know the drill. You sit down across from your doctor, and they hand you a sheet of paper with your latest lab results. That familiar sinking feeling hits when you see it:
“Your cholesterol is too high.”
Cue the lecture on saturated fats, the suggestion to exercise more, and the warning that you may need to start statins. Again.
If you’ve been here before, you’re not alone. It’s frustrating. It’s disheartening. And if you’re someone who eats fairly healthy, moves your body, and still ends up with high cholesterol? It can feel like you’re broken.
Now, imagine if instead of another daily pill, your doctor offered you a single shot. One gene-editing infusion. A one-and-done fix that permanently lowers your cholesterol. That’s not science fiction anymore. It’s what CRISPR gene editing promises. But here’s the question:
Is this true progress or just another way we’re avoiding deeper root causes?
The CRISPR Cholesterol Trial Explained
A new wave of early clinical trials is testing a one-time CRISPR gene-editing injection to lower cholesterol by rewriting the DNA in your liver. In a small group of patients with severe genetic cholesterol issues, one shot lowered LDL cholesterol and triglycerides by nearly 50%.
- Treatment: One IV infusion targeting genes like PCSK9 and ANGPTL3
- Goal: Permanently reduce the liver’s ability to produce or retain cholesterol
- Result: Early trials show 50–70% reductions in LDL and triglycerides
- Stage: Phase 1 (safety-focused), small group
- Side Effects: So far, minimal, but long-term risks are unknown
The excitement is understandable. For those with genetic lipid disorders or people who don’t want statins, this could be an exciting opportunity. But it’s still very early.
A note on statins: While statins have long been the standard treatment for high cholesterol, they come with important limitations. One major issue is poor long-term adherence, about 50% of patients stop taking cholesterol-lowering medications within a year, often due to pill fatigue and the psychological burden of lifelong daily medication. Side effects are another common barrier, with patients reporting muscle pain (myalgia), fatigue, and, in some cases, liver, kidney, or eye-related issues; although clinical trials report low rates, real-world studies suggest 10–20% of patients experience muscle symptoms, and blinded rechallenge studies show that a substantial portion consistently feel worse on statins than placebo. Statins are not effective for everyone, particularly those with certain genetic conditions such as Homozygous Familial Hypercholesterolemia (HoFH), where impaired or absent LDL receptors limit the drug’s ability to lower cholesterol, which means that even the highest safe doses of cholesterol-lowering medications don’t work well for them.
Cholesterol 101
- LDL (“bad” cholesterol): Contributes to plaque in arteries
- HDL (“good” cholesterol): Helps clear LDL out
- Triglycerides: Fat used for energy, but too much = inflammation and metabolic issues
- Most cholesterol is made by your liver, not just from food
That’s why doctors target LDL aggressively. Because when it builds up, your blood vessels become clogged, stiff, and inflamed. But cholesterol also plays a critical role in hormone production, brain health, and cell membranes.
Although it may seem paradoxical that a whole food vegan diet can lower cholesterol, given that most cholesterol is made by the liver, the research confirms its effectiveness. A meta-analysis by Caroline A. Koch et al. (2023) found that vegetarian and vegan diets significantly reduced total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol, with average reductions of −0.34 mmol/L and −0.30 mmol/L respectively across 30 trials. These effects were consistent across different study designs and participant groups, showing that plant-based diets produce a reliable cholesterol-lowering effect. Koch and colleagues emphasize that plant-based diets can reduce the atherosclerotic burden and lower cardiovascular disease risk, even if the exact mechanisms remain unclear.
It feels contradictory that doctors aggressively target high cholesterol with medications and are even exploring cutting-edge gene-editing therapies, yet rarely integrate coaching support to help patients adopt a plant-exclusive diet, an approach proven to lower cholesterol. There’s a kind of cognitive dissonance within the medical system: rather than investing in sustainable, food-based solutions, many providers seem more comfortable prescribing injections or pursuing permanent genetic interventions. This disconnect raises important questions about priorities in care. Why is it easier to alter someone’s DNA than to support a meaningful lifestyle change?
How the Gene Editing Works
CRISPR-based cholesterol therapies work by silencing specific genes in your liver:
- PCSK9: This gene tells your liver to hold on to LDL cholesterol. Turning it off helps your body clear it more efficiently.
- ANGPTL3: Regulates both LDL and triglycerides. People born with mutations in this gene have super-low cholesterol and fewer heart issues, with no side effects.
Instead of daily pills, CRISPR delivers a genetic edit via a one-time IV infusion using lipid nanoparticles that target the liver. It’s like reprogramming your liver to behave like someone who was born with naturally low cholesterol.
Why This Sounds Like a Miracle
Let’s be real: for many, this sounds like the answer we’ve all been waiting for.
- No more pills
- No more statin side effects
- No more food guilt
- No more tracking cholesterol ratios
It’s especially promising for those who:
- Don’t want statins
- Have inherited cholesterol disorders
- Feel overwhelmed by lifestyle changes
But here’s the thing:
This could be life-changing. But it doesn’t make coaching, nutrition, or lifestyle obsolete.
The Part That Deserves a Pause: Permanent DNA Changes
CRISPR alters your DNA permanently. That’s the point. It’s meant to be a lifelong fix. But that permanence is also why we need to slow down.
Risks include:
- Off-target edits (changing genes we didn’t mean to)
- Immune system reactions
- Liver inflammation or damage
- Unknown long-term effects (10, 20, 30 years from now)
Plus, cholesterol does more than cause heart attacks. It supports your:
- Brain (too low = depression, memory loss)
- Hormones (estrogen, progesterone, cortisol)
- Cell structure
Lower isn’t always better. Especially if we don’t know what “low” actually means for you.
The Bigger Question: Are We Treating Cholesterol or Metabolic Dysfunction?
Here’s the part that matters most:
High cholesterol is a symptom. Not the root cause.
Yes, genetics play a role. But so do:
- Insulin resistance
- Chronic inflammation
- Sedentary lifestyles
- Processed foods
- Poor sleep
- Ongoing stress
Gene editing might lower your cholesterol, but it won’t:
- Heal your gut
- Reverse blood sugar issues
- Improve your mitochondrial function
- Detox your environment
In other words: your numbers may improve, but your health might not.
Who Might This Actually Be For?
To be fair, this tech isn’t for everyone. At least not yet. It may be helpful for:
- People with Familial Hypercholesterolemia (genetic)
- Refractory cases (unchanged by meds or lifestyle)
- Those with true statin intolerance
- Possibly, in the future, as an adjunct to lifestyle
But if you’re one of the 86 million Americans with high cholesterol driven by diet, stress, or inactivity?
This isn’t the fix. Not yet. And maybe not ever.
What This Means for the 86 Million Americans with High Cholesterol
Here’s what still works:
- Fiber-rich foods (quinoa, nuts, seeds, fruits, veggies)
- Swapping saturated for unsaturated fats
- Daily movement
- Stress management
- Consistent sleep
These aren’t sexy. They take time. But they work. And they come with no side effects, no price tag, and no permanent genome alterations.
If you’re waiting for CRISPR to “save you,” you might be waiting for decades. And in that time, the damage could already be done.
CRISPR gene-editing therapy for cholesterol is expected to be extremely expensive, likely exceeding $1 million per patient. M. Hoekstra et al. (2024) note that the cost of already approved gene therapies, such as those for sickle cell disease, generally surpasses this amount, and similar pricing is anticipated for CRISPR-based cholesterol treatments. This raises major concerns about affordability and access. Hoekstra also emphasizes the need for a reasonable cost-benefit ratio for society while still incentivizing pharmaceutical development, pointing to a complex economic balancing act. Sara Pollanen et al. (2024) warns that the high cost may widen health disparities if only the most privileged can afford such therapies. Even current cholesterol-lowering treatments, like PCSK9 inhibitors, are already considered expensive, and it’s unclear whether insurance will cover the costs of gene-editing therapies. Additionally, there’s uncertainty about whether these treatments will be reserved for high-risk individuals, such as those with familial hypercholesterolemia, or offered more broadly, which would have enormous implications for overall healthcare spending.
CRISPR gene-editing treatments for high cholesterol are not FDA-approved. These therapies are currently considered investigational and are undergoing early-stage clinical trials (Phase 1 and Phase 1b) to evaluate their safety and proper dosing. These phases are critical steps, but they precede the larger, longer studies needed to confirm efficacy and secure regulatory approval. There is still significant work ahead before these treatments can be approved for general use. Although the FDA has approved a CRISPR-based therapy, CASGEVY, for sickle cell disease and beta-thalassemia, that approval does not extend to cholesterol-lowering applications.
The Bottom Line
Science is evolving. And that’s something to celebrate. I think it is cool to know what is possible, and I am not against access to anything. But let’s not confuse a technological shortcut with real healing.
CRISPR might transform lives. But health isn’t something that happens to us.
It’s something we build.
Daily. Deliberately. Holistically.
And that’s the part no gene can edit.
Reflection:
If your high cholesterol disappeared tomorrow, what other health issues would still be there?
Ready to go deeper?
Watch my free webinar: Revitalize Your Brain: A Lifestyle Approach for Women Over 50. In it, I walk you through the framework behind my Brain Health Breakthrough Coaching Program, where we focus on improving metabolic health through sustainable lifestyle shifts. Our goals? More energy, sharper thinking, and lower stress, all of which are closely tied to healthy cholesterol levels.
We’ve actually done multiple sessions on cholesterol inside the program. There’s an explainer video on the evidence-based Portfolio Diet for naturally reducing LDL, and we had a live session on October 16 dedicated to cholesterol-lowering foods, with demos included! We also regularly host raw food demonstrations, and all replays are available in our private group for easy access.
You can watch the webinar and book a free consultation to explore whether this coaching container is right for you. It’s open enrollment, lifetime access, and you’ll be supported every step of the way.
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