Scientists from the University of Warwick in Britain have identified a form of "ultrabad" cholesterol that significantly increases the risk of heart disease and diabetes.
Researchers found that the cholesterol, known as MGmin-LDL, is sticker than the LDL, or bad cholesterol and is more likely to stick to the artery walls.
MGmin-LDL is found more commonly among those who suffer from type 2 diabetes as well as in the elderly.
"We're excited to see our research leading to a greater understanding of this type of cholesterol, which seems to cause heart disease in diabetics and elderly people. The next challenge is to tackle this more dangerous type of cholesterol with treatments that could help neutralise its harmful effects on patients' arteries", lead researcher Dr Naila Rabbani wrote in the report that has been published in the journal Diabetes.