Fixing problems in cholesterol metabolism could stave off a leading cause of blindness (AMD help)

Medical Xpress / Washington University in St. Louis / Nature Communications ^ | June 24, 2025 | Lee TJ, et al

[ConservativeMind]

A search shows ApoM can be increased by simvastatin and exercise, but another study I dug up specifically shows intermittent fasting definitely increases ApoM, even if it does not change the amount of HDL. Instead, it changes the amount of HDL with ApoM in it, as a proportion of HDL.

The researchers found that early AMD problems with retinal health and cholesterol deposits reversed with higher amounts of ApoB in HDL.

I will post that next.

[ConservativeMind]

Intermittent fasting (IF) “increased significantly” ApoM levels.

Effects of dietary interventions and intermittent fasting on HDL function in obese individuals with T2DM: a randomized controlled trial

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11395628/#Tab1

“Plasma apoM levels increased significantly after 12 weeks of IF (Fig. 1B). In agreement with our results, previous studies have shown an association between apoM and BMI [21, 22].”

[ConservativeMind]

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[SaveFerris]

(I dug up specifically shows intermittent fasting definitely increases ApoM)

I’m glad you said that because I do fast at odd intervals often 1-2 times a week.

[OftheOhio]

I’ll never take a statin again. There’s a reason for that. 893 ratings from patients. Could drinking poison Hemlock be any worse. I have zero inflammation in my body now in my 70s and that’s from no longer allowing myself to be a guinea pig.
https://www.askapatient.com/viewrating.asp?drug=19766&name=ZOCOR

https://www.askapatient.com/searchresults.asp?searchField=simvastatin#google_vignette

[imardmd1]

bmk

[BobL]

“I’ll never take a statin again. There’s a reason for that. 893 ratings from patients. Could drinking poison Hemlock be any worse. I have zero inflammation in my body now in my 70s and that’s from no longer allowing myself to be a guinea pig.”

Can’t blame you, the research on statins just keeps getting worse. They do lower LDL, but that is not necessarily a good thing. What counts is HDL and especially Triglycerides...get those numbers good and you’re all set.

[MayflowerMadam]

I’ve read a lot about IF, and it seems that there are many variations on it.

Some fast for days, or a day. When being interviewed on Newsmax, Dr. Oz said to “skip breakfast”, e.g., eat nothing between 8 p.m. and 10 a.m. He referred to that as “intermittent fasting”. I can do that easily.

I suppose each person experiments until he finds the method that works best for him.

[MayflowerMadam]

“the research on statins just keeps getting worse.”

And “they” wonder why most of us were reluctant to take the Covid shot which hadn’t been researched basically at all. Statins have been around for decades, and they’re still researching its issues. In which case, everyone on them is a literal guinea pig.

[norwaypinesavage]

Thanks for posting this. It’s very important to me. My father had heart disease and was blind from AMD, when he died from Alzheimer’s in his mid 90s. My mother also died of “dementia” at 89. I am presently taking a statin for elevated cholesterol but it is now well under control. I had considered stopping it, though this article would indicate I should keep on taking it (as my doctor recommends).

Thanks for all your efforts in posting medical news. It’s always interesting and a is great resource for us all.

[Bob434]

You can basically keep hdl down eating oatmeal and cheerios can’t you? Or isthat for something else?

[tired&retired]

Thank You, Thank You, Thank You for posting this article.

AMD runs in my family. Mother, brother and sister are legally blind due to it.

My thoughts were that it was caused by hypoxia. I’ve observed many causes of the hypoxia, from hemoglobin deficiencies to vascular constriction.

My own theory has always been that the Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) that causes wet AMD was caused by the hypoxia. That’s why people usually have wet in one eye and dry in the other.

The Zeaxanthin serves as an O2 reservoir and when Drusen turns hard, the O2 reserves become deficient causing hypoxia.

It would be interesting to see if people who have sleep apnea are more prone to AMD.

Again, thank you for posting these great articles.

[Hyman Roth]

I thought masturbation was the leading cause of blindness

[onthelookout777]

Harmful Effects of Skipping Breakfast
_____________________________________

Intermittent fasting may be beneficial, but studies indicate it’s best not to do it by skipping or delaying breakfast. Though breakfast skipping is often recommended by intermittent-fasting proponents in the U.S., I’ve heard that in other countries it’s emphasized not to skip breakfast because of the great importance of breakfast. If they want to fast, they do it at other times of day. Here are some studies:
____________

One study found that skipping breakfast quadrupled dementia risk

2011 - Relationship between lifestyle habits and dementia among community dwelling older adult: Findings from a 6-year follow up

... irrespective of sex and age, participants who did not have breakfast were four times more at the risk of developing dementia...

https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/hwelfare/18/1/18_KJ00007407016/_pdf/-char/en
and
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/health-fitness/de-stress/skipping-breakfast-increases-dementia-risk-by-four-times-study/articleshow/90156048.cms
____________

2024/2025 - Clinical association of habitual breakfast skipping with cognitive decline and neurodegeneration among older adults

Those who habitually skipped breakfast had lower MMSE scores than breakfast eaters...

breakfast skippers who underwent MRIs also showed more significant brain atrophy (shrinking) compared to those who ate breakfast.

Breakfast skipping was linked to an increased risk of long-term cognitive decline and neurodegeneration among older adults.

[This] cognitive decline may be attributed to a deficiency in neurorestoration resulting from inadequate energy consumption.

... breakfast skipping increased levels of numerous biomarkers of neurodegeneration.

https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/skipping-breakfast-could-raise-dementia-210242033.html
and
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2324242624000809
____________

2024 - Associations between breakfast skipping and outcomes in neuropsychiatric disorders, cognitive performance, and frailty

studies have identified a correlation between breakfast skipping and a heightened risk of mental health issues.

skipping breakfast is associated with an increased risk of ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder), MDD (Major Depressive Disorder), decreased cognitive performance, and greater frailty

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12888-024-05723-1
____________

2022 - Breakfast Skipping and Declines in Cognitive Score Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults

In this study of 712 older adults (mean age, 70.8 years) who skipped breakfast just one or more times per week, “incidence rate for declines in cognitive score was significantly higher in breakfast skippers (n = 29) than breakfast eaters (n = 683)”

[Seems even skipping breakfast once a week can increase risk of cognitive decline??]

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/08919887221135551
____________

2019 - Association of Skipping Breakfast With Cardiovascular and All-Cause Mortality

In a nationally representative cohort with 17 to 23 years of follow-up, skipping breakfast was associated with a significantly increased risk of mortality from cardiovascular disease.

Our study supports the benefits of eating breakfast in promoting cardiovascular health.

https://www.jacc.org/doi/abs/10.1016/j.jacc.2019.01.065
____________

2020 - Association of skipping breakfast and different domains of cognitive function among undergraduate medical students

those who took breakfast had higher BDS and MMSE scores indicating positive association between having breakfast and certain domains of cognitive function

https://ijpp.com/association-of-skipping-breakfast-and-different-domains-of-cognitive-function-among-undergraduate-medical-students-a-cross-sectional-study/
____________

Best to eat breakfast before 8:30 a.m.

Adverse effects from eating breakfast after 9:00 a.m.

Eat breakfast before this time every morning for optimal health...
An earlier breakfast promotes heart health, blood sugar control and weight management.
https://www.today.com/health/diet-fitness/best-time-to-eat-breakfast-rcna196020

Eating before 8:30 a.m. could reduce risk factors for type 2 diabetes
https://www.endocrine.org/news-and-advocacy/news-room/featured-science-from-endo-2021/eating-before-830-am-could-reduce-risk-factors-for-type-2-diabetes

“having a later first meal (later than 9AM compared to earlier than 8AM) and last meal of the day (later than 9PM compared to earlier than 8PM) was associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular outcomes, especially among women.

“Our results suggest a potential benefit of adopting earlier eating timing patterns, and coupling a longer nighttime fasting period with an early last meal, rather than breakfast skipping, in CVD prevention.”

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-023-43444-3

[Mr Rogers]

I’ve skipped breakfast for most of my life. Not a problem.

Association studies are worthless unless the impact is a 100% increase or more. Why? Because there are far too many factors in population studies that cannot be accounted for.

For example, WHY is someone skipping breakfast? Is it because they are already sick and don’t feel like getting up and making one? Is it because they are poor? And what do they eat the rest of the day?

“An earlier breakfast promotes heart health, blood sugar control and weight management.”

Umm...when I went Keto and starting restricting my meals to Noon - 6pm, I lost a lot of weight. Cholesterol stayed the same, HDL increased nearly 50%, triglycerides dropped. And a lot of people have experienced the same thing.

Nothing magical about “breakfast”, particularly when so many people are not “breaking” any kind of a “fast”!

[dfwgator]

“An earlier breakfast promotes heart health, blood sugar control and weight management.”

---

Gee, I wonder who paid for that study?

[onthelookout777]

Glad to hear what’s working for you.

Unfortunately, according to the studies, it doesn’t work for the majority.

You certainly make a good point that there are various reasons why people skip breakfast, though still the adverse effects occur for the majority who do that.

Thanks for your input.

[Overtaxed]

https://www.amazon.com/Ancestral-Dietary-Strategy-Prevent-Degeneration-ebook/dp/B07ZS2619S

Chris Knobbe: Ancestral Dietary Strategy to Prevent and Treat Macular Degeneration

The main takeaway is to eat the foods people ate before processed foods. I found this book a year ago after drusen showed up on my macula. Nine months of following his advice (no seed oils!) resulted in no drusen in sight at my yearly eye exam.

[onthelookout777]

Thanks for posting.

[lula]

Mark for later. Thanks!