A new research has revealed that a less known form of cholesterol can contribute to increasing the risk of cardiovascular diseases, much more than previously thought, and medicines should be used to reduce the cholesterol's levels circulating in the blood.

The study, which was funded by the British Heart Foundation, discovered that Lipoprotein can also cause heart diseases, in addition to LDL or bad cholesterol.

For the sake of study, researchers researched the genes of 16,000 people from across Britain and Europe and discovered that there are a total of 2 genes which primarily control the production of Lipoprotein, and have very strong links with cardiovascular problems.

"We all know about 'good' HDL cholesterol and 'harmful' LDL cholesterol, but this is a third class that we should pay attention to. Diet and exercise have little effect on Lp(a) levels, but some existing drugs such as Niacin - and others coming onto the market such as CETP-inhibitors - lower Lp(a) as well as LDL cholesterol", said Professor Hugh Watkins, the study's lead author.

Details of the study have been published in the New England Journal of Medicine.