The findings that FANC markedly attenuated aortic atherosclerosis and mildly lowered serum cholesterol both in ApoE-deficient mice and LDLr-deficient mice supported that the properties of FANC beyond inhibition of cholesterol absorption in the intestine played a major role in the anti-atherosclerotic effects of FANC. The gene discussed is APOE; the disease is aortic atherosclerosis.