Too much of a good thing? Very high levels of 'good' cholesterol may be harmful (HDL can kill)

MedicalXPress / European Society of Cardiology ^ | Aug 25, 2018 | Dr. Marc Allard-Ratick, of Emory University School of Medicine

[ConservativeMind]

Very high levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL or "good") cholesterol may be associated with an increased risk of heart attack and death...

HDL cholesterol has been considered "good" because the HDL molecule is involved in the transport of cholesterol from the blood and blood vessel walls to the liver and ultimately out of the body, thereby reducing the risk of clogged arteries and atherosclerosis. People with low HDL cholesterol have a greater risk of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease. But the protective effect of very high HDL cholesterol has been unclear.

During a median follow-up of four years, 769 (13%) participants had a heart attack or died from a cardiovascular cause. Participants with HDL cholesterol 41-60 mg/dl (1.1-1.5 mmol/L) had the lowest risk of heart attack or cardiovascular death. Risk was increased both in participants with low levels (less than 41 mg/dl) and very high levels (greater than 60 mg/dl) of HDL cholesterol, which produced a U-shaped curve when plotted graphically.

Participants with HDL cholesterol levels greater than 60 mg/dl (1.5 mmol/L) had a nearly 50% increased risk of dying from a cardiovascular cause or having a heart attack compared to those with HDL cholesterol levels 41-60 mg/dl (1.1-1.5 mmol/L).

The results support findings from several large population-based studies, including a recent publication which found increased cardiovascular and all-cause death when HDL cholesterol reached extremely high levels.

[ConservativeMind]

There can be too much of a “good” thing when going outside the HDL range of 41 - 60 mg/dl.

It’s far better to decrease your triglycerides than to have > 60 HDL. You decrease triglycerides by doing a lot of exercise or going lower carb.

[brownsfan]

#1 - Moderation in all things.
#2 - Avoid medications if at all possible.

[cuban leaf]

Duh. Even water can kill. They call it drowning. And divers know of something called “oxygen toxicity”.

And don’t even get me started on sex.

[Vision]

It seems hard to get HDL to rise at all or to these dangerous levels.

[BereanBrain]

This just in. The cause of death is ...... living.

[dfwgator]

Life’ll kill ya.

[AppyPappy]

My HDL(71) went up and my triglycerides(142) went down during Covid. Niacin will boost your HDL.

[systemjim]

Personally, I get very sick of the constant fear porn in the media.

But, I guess you must keep the sheep frightened in order to better control them.

[JohnnyP]

Just got the results back from my most recent blood work:

HDL/TRIG was 62/44.

Only trace ketones in urine but I measured blood ketones later that day, they were 1.1. :)

CO2 was one point below normal, probably due to the ketones.

I see the doctor in an hour, better get dressed. Freeping in the nude at the moment. :)

I’m 187 now, into a size 36 slim trouser. Looking good. Was a 42 chunky fit.

[dsrtsage]

Dihydrogen monoxide is a key ingredient in many industrial toxins

[pepsi_junkie]

"May be" ... "linked to" ... "findings from several large population-based studies"

So they scanned some data from a bunch of studies that were neither controlled nor studying the relevant paramater (HDL) and found an apparant statistical correlation that may or may not be real.

Long winded way of saying 'more junk science from the nutrition community'

[BeauBo]

It may simply be that a lot of the samples with HDL over 60, were folks whose total cholesterol was way high - all kinds of cholesterol.

High LDL and VLDL might be the causative factors in the increased mortality, and the high HDL just correlated with it.

[Tennessee Conservative]

I have high LDL but my HDL was 65 with my last blood test in February. My triglycerides are always low. My dog’s Vet, and friend, has an HDL of 135. That blew my mind. I never heard of an HDL that high.

[sanjuanbob]

I’m sorry Johnny, you’re too healthy. Go home, eat a big steak, smoke a cigar and have a few glasses of scotch. Oh, and sleep in tomorrow.

[rdl6989]

Bad news sells.

[cdcdawg]

My most recent HDL reading was 67.3. From this I can safely assume that one day I am going to die.

[Grampa Dave]

My wife has a HDL of 74.

She just turned 81. Up to now her lab values have been used as a role model for Senior citizens.

Her DNA roll models: mother lived to be 90 and so did her maternal grandmother.

More B$ from the non doctors in medicine.

[ckilmer]

I’m reading that ldl and hdl levels are effects of inflammation and not the cause. that inflammation is the cause of heart troubles on one stripe or another.

[aimhigh]

The death rate is 100%.

[pepsi_junkie]

Rule number 1: Correlation does not equal causation
Rule number 2: Studies that say they found links to or associate with found statistical correlation only.
Rule Number 3: Studies of studies didn't even study the thing that the correlation is claiming was be found for.
Rule number 4: Claims resulting from ignoring the above will result in spectacular claims that generate headlines but will be contradicted by other studies of studies almost immediately.

Basically Rule #A1 is don't pay attention to studies of studies that "link" things to bad outcomes, it's not science and isn't meaningful.