Both work by inhibiting an obscure molecule called the cholesterol ester transfer protein (CETP) that works indirectly to prevent HDL from being used to create low-density lipoprotein (LDL), the bad cholesterol.

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"The system is set up so that the HDL high density lipoproteins, or artery-cleaning or 'good' cholesterol, cleans out the LDL low density lipoproteins, or 'bad' cholesterol, " she explains.

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