1. First idea to be explored:
Why is the gene for FH so prevalent in our current population? It is probably because high cholesterol was a good trait to have in our evolutionary past. Obviously, it is no longer desirable today.
Three resources for exploring this idea:
a) Book: Survival of the Sickest by Dr. Sharon Moalem
b) US government article: Why doesn’t high cholesterol hurt?
c) American Heart Association article: Evolutionary Genetics of Coronary Heart Disease (in particular, read the Lipid Metabolism section)