The finding of 11 new genes offers more clues about how cholesterol works in a human body.

After screening approximately 40,000 people from around the world, researchers uncovered genes that govern the levels of blood fats such as LDL cholesterol and triglycerides, HealthDay reports.

This brings the total number of these genes to 30. Also, some of the newly-identified genes are known to have rare mutations that can cause cholesterol disorders and type 2 diabetes.

Some of the 11 newly identified genes are known to have rare mutations that cause serious cholesterol disorders or conditions such as type 2 diabetes, the website reports.

"These locations point us to previously unsuspected players in the metabolism of cholesterol in humans. Now that we have these additional genes that play a role in humans, we have to figure out how they do it by doing additional studies," said Dr. Sekar Kathiresan, lead author of the report.

Kasthiresan added the new finding may help to identify people who may develop high cholesterol levels at an earlier age, which may help get patients on preventative medication for heart disease.

Some people have turned to natural drugs or a change in diet to control their high cholesterol.