Low-carb diets have become increasingly popular, touted for their ability to keep blood sugar levels and weight down and slash the risk of diabetes. But new research suggests the trendy diet could send cholesterol levels sky-rocketing for some, increasing the risk of heart disease, heart attack and stroke. Around half of UK adults are estimated to have high cholesterol, the deadly fatty plaque that builds-up in the arteries and kills around one in five every year. Low-carb diets are typically made up of 75 per cent fat, 20 per cent protein, and 10 per cent carbs, like potatoes and bread.The eating plan has previously been credited with raising levels of so-called good cholesterol, which helps clear fatty deposits from the arteries. However, new findings suggest that the diet could increase 'bad' LDL cholesterol in high risk individuals due to the high fat foods it entails. Presenting the research, study lead author Alexa Barad said while some may see benefits with a low-carb diet, this doesn't apply to everyone. 'Diet advice can sometimes be presented as one-size fits all,' she said. 'While some people find a low-carb diet raises their cholesterol, others see no effect.' The keto diet is a high-fat, low-carb plan designed to force the body to burn fat for fuel instead of glucose The team, from Stanford University School of Medicine, wanted to see if a person's genes could help identify those who could benefit from eating fewer carbohydrates, and those who may experience a potentially deadly rise in cholesterol. The study analysed data from a trial involving more than 600 adults who followed either a healthy low-carb diet or a healthy low fat-diet for one year.First, the authors identified no clear advantage for either diet when it came to weight loss.But the current researchers wanted to take this one step further, focusing on 431 participants for whom genetic data was available. They examined participants' individual genetic makeup, saturated fat consumption, and changes in 'bad' cholesterol over a six-month period. Among participants eating a low-carb diet, those who were genetically predisposed to higher levels of bad cholesterol were more likely to experience a potentially dangerous increase, the scientists found.This was said to be because those following the diet often replace carbohydrate-heavy food for those that are high in fat, such as red meat and cheese. High cholesterol causes fatty deposits to build up in the arteries, which can narrow the blood vessel and lead to a heart attack