Two new studies have found a possible reason for the high cholesterol epidemic across the country.

Researchers have been using fruit flies to understand the effects of cholesterol in the body. According to the studies, the flies have the same molecular mechanisms as humans that helps them maintain healthy cholesterol levels.

The first study, published in Genes and Development, examined the effects of the DHR96 protein and how it helps maintain a healthy cholesterol level. The researchers removed the protein in fruit flies and fed them either lean or fat diets. The missing protein upset the cholesterol balance and the flies that were given low fat diets died, while the others had skyrocketing cholesterol levels.

The other study, published in Cell Metabolism, found that when the protein was silenced and the researchers lowered levels of the fat molecule triacylglycerol (TAG), which controls weight, the insects did not gain weight no matter what they were fed. When the TAG levels increased, the insects became obese due to their diets. It was noted that DHR96 would have prevented this, despite the changing TAG levels.

The researchers feel it may be humans who are lacking the protein that are facing high cholesterol and obesity.