Posted on 03/29/2008 1:37:17 PM PDT by Mount Athos
A health study by Japanese researchers has found that people with low levels of LDL cholesterol -- often referred to as "bad cholesterol" -- are more likely to die than those with higher levels.
The finding comes as Japan prepares to introduce special health checkups from April, which list high LDL cholesterol as a factor in deciding whether a person has metabolic syndrome. It is likely the results of the survey will stir debate over the designation of LDL cholesterol as "bad."
The study was led by Tokai University professor Yoichi Ogushi, who surveyed roughly 26,000 people who had at least two health checkups between 1987 and 2006, following them for an average of 8.1 years. The subjects were divided into seven groups based on their LDL cholesterol readings, and the relationship between the readings and people's deaths was examined.
Researchers found that in terms of overall deaths, men and women in the group with the lowest LDL cholesterol level (79 milligrams per deciliter of blood or less) had the highest death rate.
For men, the yearly death rate worked out at about 3,400 deaths per 100,000 people - about 1.6 times higher than the group with the lowest death rate, whose LDL cholesterol level was between 140 and 159 milligrams. The figure for women stood at about 1,900 deaths per 100,000 people, or about 1.3 times more than the group with the lowest death rate, which covered people with LDL cholesterol levels between 120 and 139 milligrams per deciliter of blood.
When deaths were restricted to strokes and heart attacks -- ailments believed to be caused by high LDL cholesterol levels -- the death rate climbed for men with levels of 180 milligrams or more. For women, however, there appeared to be almost no relationship between their LDL cholesterol level and the death rate.
Deaths from cancer and respiratory ailments, on the other hand, increased among men and women with low LDL cholesterol levels, lifting the overall death rate.
Ogushi suggests that the appropriate LDL cholesterol level for men is between 100 and 180 milligrams per deciliter of blood. He suggests women should have a level of at least 120 milligrams.
In health checkups from April, people with readings of 120 milligrams or more will be advised to lower their LDL cholesterol levels, but Ogushi questions this advice.
"Excessively lowering an LDL level that is within an appropriate range is dangerous," he said. "Cholesterol is needed in the body and immune function drops when it is low, and it is possible that the death rate rises as a result."
When I said “too high is bad” this means total cholesterol==>high or LDL ==> high
Please read my comments later in the thread. Don’t infer anything about middle-range LDL from patients with extremely low-range LDL.
The article says over wise. That's why the questions.
This is where you want it to be! Don't stop taking statins and go above those ranges!!!
Even with a big statin dose my LDL is still 182.
Hillary is a liar. Anthropogenic warming is doubted, and doctors love to experiment on people.
According to Dr Ornish it is the RATIO of TOTAL to HD that is important
4.0 or lower is excellent
People are simple-mindedly reading that extremely low LDL is associated with problems and inferring that LDL should be left to rise uncontrolled.
That looks like the new Kosher bacon. Next will be non-fat peanut butter.
Good point, although extremes of LDL are not good either.
You are right, I have been reading more and more about inflammation being the bad thing, so get ready for the next wave of pills.
Seriously, this study makes a LOT of sense to me. My family, from elderly to the kiddies, all have high cholesterol. We all love fruits and veggies, and food in general. Everyone lives into their 90s. There have been 0 heart attacks and no strokes other than a few mini-strokes in the upper 90 years in one of two of them.
I have never understood the whole cholesterol-lowering thing.
Thanks. We’ll definitely want to look closely at the numbers.
You need some cheese and chilly on top of that!
Thanks for Post #33
In a nutshell - SCORE
My mother once called me “over wise.”
Make sure it's nice and hot chilly.
That reminds me of my recent physical. The Doc asked if I had any family who had cancer. “Yes, on my Mom’s side.” I replied.
“That’s bad”, he said.
“I know,” said I. “They all died in their late 80s...on my Dad’s side, they all lived into their 90s.”
The Doc decided I probably didn’t need to worry based on family history...
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