Low levels of HDL cholesterol lead to an increased death rate

This study was published in the Journal of Lipid Research 2012 Feb;53(2):266-72

Study title and author:

Fifty-three year follow-up of coronary heart disease versus HDL2 and other lipoproteins in Gofman's Livermore Cohort.

Williams PT.

Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA. ptwilliams@lbl.gov

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22128321

This study assessed the relationship of high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels with total death rates and heart disease death rates. The study lasted for 53 years and included 1,905 men.

HDL cholesterol is made of HDL 2 and HDL 3. HDL 2 is larger than HDL 3.

After analysing 53 years of data the study found:
(a) Those with the lowest HDL 2 cholesterol had a 22% increase in total death rates.
(b) Those with the lowest HDL 2 cholesterol had a 63% increase in total heart disease death rates.
(c) Those with the lowest HDL 2 cholesterol had a 117% increase in premature heart disease death rates.
(d) Those with the lowest HDL 3 cholesterol had a 28% increase in total heart disease death rates.
(e) Those with the lowest HDL 3 cholesterol had a 71% increase in premature heart disease death rates.

The results of the study show that low levels of HDL cholesterol, especially HDL 2 cholesterol, are associated with higher total death rates and higher death rates from heart disease.

The best dietary way to raise HDL cholesterol levels is to eat a diet high in saturated fat. See here.

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Men with the lowest cholesterol have a three-fold increased risk of death from AIDS compared to men with the highest cholesterol

This study was published in AIDS 1997 Jun;11(7):929-30

Study title and authors:

Low serum cholesterol and risk of death from AIDS.

Neaton JD, Wentworth DN.

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9189220

The study investigated the relationship of cholesterol levels, measured prior to HIV infection, with risk of death from AIDS. The study included 332,547 men aged between 35-57 who were followed for 16 years.

The study found that men with the lowest cholesterol levels, below 160 mg/dL (4.2 mmol/L), had a three-fold increased risk of death from AIDS compared to men who had cholesterol levels above 240 mg/dL (6.2 mmol/L).

Links to other studies:
Men with low cholesterol have a 66% increase in HIV infection compared to men with higher cholesterol
High cholesterol is a marker for longevity

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Increase in colorectal cancer cases in statin users

This study was published in the World Journal of Gastroenterology 2011 Dec 21;17(47):5197-202

Study title and authors:
Statin use and the risk of colorectal cancer: a population-based case-control study.

Cheng MH, Chiu HF, Ho SC, Tsai SS, Wu TN, Yang CY.
Division of Pulmonary and Critical Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan, China.

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22215945

The aim of the study was to investigate whether the use of statins is associated with colorectal cancer risk. The study included 1,156 colorectal cancer cases and 4,624 controls.

The results of the study revealed that those who were prescribed statins had a 9% increased risk of colorectal cancer compared to those who did not take statins.

Links to other studies:
Statins increase the risk of colon adenomas by 54%
Statins increase cancer rates by 41% and the overall death rate by 4%
Statins increase lymphoid malignancy rates by 124%

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Higher cholesterol levels in both men and women are linked to a longer life

This study was published in the Journal of Internal medicineVolume 254, Issue 4, pages 353–362, October 2003

Study title and authors:
Total cholesterol and mortality in the elderly

E. Casiglia, A. Mazza, V. Tikhonoff, R. Scarpa, L. Schiavon, A. C. Pessina

Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Padova, Italy

This study can be accessed at: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1046/j.1365-2796.2003.01200.x/full

The objective of the study was to evaluate whether cholesterol levels are associated with death rates  and to verify whether or not this is true for both genders. The study lasted 12 years and included a total of 3,257 subjects aged 65–95 years.

The study found:
(a) Women with the highest cholesterol levels had a 34% lower death rate than women with the lowest cholesterol levels.
(b) Men with cholesterol levels over 4.66 mmol/L (180 mg/dL) and a Body Mass Index above 25 had a 28% lower death rate than men with cholesterol levels below 4.66 mmol/l (180 mg/dL) and a Body Mass Index above 25.
(c) Men with cholesterol levels over 4.66 mmol/L (180 mg/dL) and a Body Mass Index above 25 had a 38% lower death rate than men with cholesterol levels below 4.66 mmol/l (180 mg/dL) and a Body Mass Index below 25.

The results of the study indicate that higher cholesterol levels in both men and women are linked to a longer life.

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Low vitamin D levels associated with higher rates of cardiovascular and cancer deaths

This study was published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 2011 Dec;94(6):1471-8

 

Study title and authors:

Prospective association of vitamin D concentrations with mortality in postmenopausal women: results from the Women's Health Initiative (WHI).

Eaton CB, Young A, Allison MA, Robinson J, Martin LW, Kuller LH, Johnson KC, Curb JD, Van Horn L, McTiernan A, Liu S, Manson JE.

Center for Primary Care and Prevention, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Pawtucket, RI, USA. charles_eaton@mhri.org

 

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22030222

25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) is the major circulating form of vitamin D and is currently considered the best indicator of vitamin D levels in the body.

This study aimed to determine whether 25-hydroxyvitamin D (vitamin D) levels were associated with cardiovascular disease, cancer, and all-cause mortality in 2,429 postmenopausal women.

The study found:
(a) Women with the lowest vitamin D levels had a 25% increased death rate compared to women with the highest vitamin D levels.
(b) Women with the lowest vitamin D levels had a 27% increased risk of cardiovascular disease deaths compared to women with the highest vitamin D levels.
(c) Women with the lowest vitamin D levels had a 39% increased risk of cancer deaths compared to women with the highest vitamin D levels.

The results of this study show that low levels of vitamin D are associated with increased rates of deaths from all-causes, cardiovascular diseases and cancer.

Vitamin D is only found in foods from animal sources (University of Bristol). The richest sources include lard, eggs, liver, fish, marine oils, organ meats and butter.

Links to other studies:
Can lard and other fatty foods offer protection from peripheral arterial disease?
High vitamin D levels associated with a 40% reduction in colon cancer - Best sources of vitamin D = High fat foods & sunshine

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Patients hospitalised with a stroke with low cholesterol have a 117% increased risk of death compared to patients with high cholesterol

This study was published in the Journals of Gerontology. Series A Biological Sciencies and Medical Sciencies 2004 Mar;59(3):293-7

Study title and authors:

Low cholesterol levels are associated with short-term mortality in older patients with ischemic stroke.

Zuliani G, Cherubini A, Atti AR, Blè A, Vavalle C, Di Todaro F, Benedetti C, Volpato S, Marinescu MG, Senin U, Fellin R.

2nd Department of Internal Medicine, University of Ferrara, Italy. gzuliani@hotmail.com

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15031316 

The study evaluated the association between cholesterol levels and 30-day death rates in 490 older patients admitted to hospital with ischemic stroke.

The study found that those with the lowest cholesterol levels, under 4.1 mmol/l (158 mg/dL), had a 117% increased risk of death compared with those with the highest cholesterol, over 5.2 mmol/l (201 mg/dL).

Linls to other studies:
Low cholesterol levels lead to a 20.2% increase in death rates in those who have had a stroke
High cholesterol levels are associated with a 22% DECREASE in stroke incidence
A direct association between falling cholesterol levels and mortality in men and women aged between 31 and 65 years old

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Trend of increased kidney cancer risk with statins

This study was published in Expert Opinion on Drug Safety 2012 Apr 16

Study title and authors:
Statin use and the risk of kidney cancer: a population-based case-control study.

Chiu HF, Kuo CC, Kuo HW, Lee IM, Lee CT, Yang CY.
Kaohsiung Medical University, Institute of Pharmacology, College of Medicine , Kaohsiung , Taiwan.

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22502740

The objective of the study was to investigate whether the use of statins was associated with kidney cancer risk. The study included 177 kidney cancer cases and 708 controls aged 50 or over.

The study found that those who were prescribed statins had an 8% increased risk of kidney cancer compared to those that did not take statins.

The author of the paper, Professor Hui-Fen Chiu, advises; "there is a trend of increased kidney cancer risk" and "it is prudent to continue monitoring cancer incidence among long-standing statin users".

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Men taking gemfibrozil have a 117% increase in cardiac deaths

This study was published in the Annals of Medicine 1993 Feb;25(1):41-5

Study title and authors:

Efficacy of gemfibrozil in dyslipidaemic subjects with suspected heart disease. An ancillary study in the Helsinki Heart Study frame population.

Frick MH, Heinonen OP, Huttunen JK, Koskinen P, Mänttäri M, Manninen V.

First Department of Medicine, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Finland.

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8435186

The study examined the effects of gemfibrozil (a cholesterol lowering drug) on death rates in male patients who had symptoms and signs of possible coronary heart disease. The study included 626 patients, average age 49, who were followed for five years.

The men were given either:
(i) 600 mg gemfibrozil twice daily.
(ii) Placebo.

The study found:
(a) The men taking gemfibrozil lowered their cholesterol levels by 8.5%.
(b) The men taking gemfibrozil had 61% more deaths than the men taking a placebo.
(c) The men taking gemfibrozil had 117% more cardiac deaths than the men taking a placebo.

The results of the study show that taking the cholesterol lowering drug gemfibrozil results in lower cholesterol levels and higher cardiac death rates and higher total death rates.  

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Statins increase the risk of gallstone disease

This study was published in Expert Opinion on Drug Safety 2012 May;11(3):369-74

Study title and authors:
Statin use and the risk of gallstone disease: a population-based case-control study.

Chiu HF, Chen CC, Kuo HW, Lee IM, Wu TN, Yang CY.
Kaohsiung Medical University, Institute of Pharmacology, College of Medicine , Kaohsiung , Taiwan.

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22243480

The aim of this study was to investigate the association between the use of statins and the risk of gallstone disease. The study included 1014 gallstone disease cases and 1014 controls aged 50 years or older.

The study found that those who were prescribed statins had a 14% increased risk of developing gallstone disease compared to those who did not take statins.

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Statin users have a 14% increased risk of melanoma

This study was published in Cancer 2012 Mar 20

Study title and authors:
Prospective analysis of association between use of statins and melanoma risk in the Women's Health Initiative.

Jagtap D, Rosenberg CA, Martin LW, Pettinger M, Khandekar J, Lane D, Ockene I, Simon MS.
Department of Oncology, Karmanos Cancer Institute, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan.

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22434400

Melanoma is the most lethal form of skin cancer. This study examined the association between statin use and the risk of melanoma. The study consisted of 119,726 postmenopausal white women who were followed for 11.6 years.

The study found that statin users had a 14% increased risk of melanoma compared to nonusers.

A research scientist notes that statins are also associated with a rise in non-melanoma skin cancer and liver cancer. See the article here.

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Statins increase the risk of prostate cancer by 55%

This study was published in Prostate 2011 Dec;71(16):1818-24

Study title and authors:
Statins increase the risk of prostate cancer: a population-based case-control study.

Chang CC, Ho SC, Chiu HF, Yang CY.
Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21480313

The aim of this study was to investigate whether the use of statins was associated with prostate cancer risk. The study included 388 prostate cancer cases and 1,552 controls. All patients were aged 50 years and older.

The study found that use of statins was associated with a 55% increase in prostate cancer risk.

See here to view an article by Dr Duane Graveline that explains how statins increase the risk of cancer.

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Response to the "everyone over 50 should be on a statin story"

I have been alerted by a few people to a story emanating from the UK that everyone over the age of fifty should be prescribed statin drugs to prevent "thousands of heart attacks and strokes".

The story is about an analysis of some statin trials that apparently showed that as cholesterol levels were lowered then heart disease and stroke levels were decreased. The thrust of the argument by one of the researchers, professor Colin Baigent, is that whatever your cholesterol level, reducing it further is beneficial.  

As anyone who reads this blog will realise, lower cholesterol levels are NOT beneficial to health.

However for arguments sake lets pretend that statin trials are not paid for by the pharmaceutical companies that manufacture the statins.

Lets pretend that many of the statin trials are not conducted by personnel that have financial ties with the companies that manufacture the statins.

Lets pretend that the trials are not designed in such a way as to seriously skew the results to show statins in a favourable light.

Lets pretend that the researchers don't just accentuate the very minor positive aspects of statin drugs in the summaries of the trials, whilst completely ignoring the vast deleterious side-effects they cause.

After all that "lets pretending", lets examine figures from the British Heart Foundation statistics database and the World Health Organisation Global Health Atlas 2005.

In both graphs data was extracted from 86 countries.

Figure 1 shows that life expectancy increases quite sharply as cholesterol levels increase, and even the data regarding cardiovascular diseases in figure 2 shows that as cholesterol levels increase, then death rates from cardiovascular diseases decrease.

Lets stop pretending.

The hard data shows the opposite of what the pharmaceutical industry backed advisers tell us.

I suggest that as well as listening to advice about data gathered from "drug company industry paid for, drug company industry personnel conducted, drug company industry designed and drug company industry biased results" trials, people should conduct their own research and come to their own conclusions.

Who would you listen to and trust?

Professor Colin Baigent heads a university department which received funding from Merck Sharpe & Dohme Ltd; who just happen to be the pharmaceutical company linked to the parent company (Merck & Co) in the USA who first brought Lovastatin to market.

Would you trust someone who trots out figures that are backed by the $29 billion statin industry, or someone who just shows unbiased data of actual life expectancies, actual cardiovascular death rates and actual cholesterol levels?

If you would like another opinion of Baigent's study go to Dr Briffa's site here.

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Higher fat diets are better than lower fat diets in the treatment of diabetes

This study was published in Diabetes Care 1994 Mar;17(3):177-82

Study title and authors:

The high-monounsaturated fat diet as a practical alternative for NIDDM.

Campbell LV, Marmot PE, Dyer JA, Borkman M, Storlien LH.

Diabetes Centre, St. Vincent's Hospital, Camperdown, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8174444

The objective of the study was to examine the effects in patients with type two diabetes of a home-prepared high-fat diet compared with a low-fat, high-carbohydrate diet. Ten men were included in the trial in which they consumed each diet for two weeks.

The composition of the diets was:
(i) 52% carbohydrate, 24% protein, 24% fat (low-fat, high-carbohydrate diet).
(ii) 40% carbohydrate, 22% protein, 38% fat (high-fat diet).

The study found:
(a) The high-fat diet lowered unhealthy high triglycerides levels.
(b) The high-fat diet lowered unhealthy high blood glucose levels.

This study shows that a high fat diet is better than a low-fat, high carbohydrate diet in the treatment of diabetes.

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Cardiovascular drugs increase the risk of suicide

This study was published in the European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology 2007 Jun;63(6):591-6

Study title and authors:

Cardiovascular drugs and the risk of suicide: a nested case-control study.

Callréus T, Agerskov Andersen U, Hallas J, Andersen M.

Institute of Public Health, Research Unit of Clinical Pharmacology, University of Southern Denmark, J.B. Winsloews Vej 9A, 5000, Odense C, Denmark. tcallreus@health.sdu.dk

This paper can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17468865

This study investigated the possible association between the use of cardiovascular drugs and suicide. 743 cases of suicide were matched with 14,860 age- and sex-matched controls and their previous cardiovascular drug use was compared.

The study found:
(a) Taking angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitors (ACE-inhibitors) increased the risk of suicide by 11%.
(b) Taking statins increased the risk of suicide by 21%.
(c) Taking angiotensin-receptor antagonists increased the risk of suicide by 252%.

This study reveals that cardiovascular drugs increase the risk of suicide.

Links to other studies:
ACE inhibitors and ARBs linked to serious birth defects
Antipsychotic drugs are a risk factor for pneumonia in frail older people

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Statins and fibrates are associated with an increased risk of peripheral neuropathy

This study was published at the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health 2004 Dec;58(12):1047-51

Study title and authors:
Lipid lowering drugs prescription and the risk of peripheral neuropathy: an exploratory case-control study using automated databases.

Corrao G, Zambon A, Bertù L, Botteri E, Leoni O, Contiero P.
Dipartimento di Statistica, Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca, Via Bicocca degli Arcimboldi 8, Edificio U7, 20126 Milan, Italy. giovanni.corrao@unimib.it

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15547071

Peripheral neuropathy describes damage to the peripheral nervous system, the vast communications network that transmits information from the brain and spinal cord (the central nervous system) to every other part of the body.

Symptoms are related to the type of affected nerve and may be seen over a period of days, weeks, or years. Muscle weakness is the most common symptom of motor nerve damage. Other symptoms may include painful cramps and fasciculations (uncontrolled muscle twitching visible under the skin), muscle loss, bone degeneration, and changes in the skin, hair, and nails. These more general degenerative changes also can result from sensory or autonomic nerve fiber loss.

This study explored the association between prescription of cholesterol lowering drugs and the risk of peripheral neuropathy. 2,040 patients with peripheral neuropathy and 36,041 controls were included in the study.

The study found:
(a) Those that took statins had a 19% increased risk of peripheral neuropathy.
(b) Those that took fibrates had a 49% increased risk of peripheral neuropathy.
(c) Those that had higher doses of statins and fibrates had a higher risk of peripheral neuropathy.

This study shows that both statins and fibrates are associated with an increased risk of peripheral neuropathy.

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Low cholesterol levels are associated with lung disease

This study was published in Circulation 2003 Mar 25;107(11):1514-9

Study title and authors:

Why are patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease at increased risk of cardiovascular diseases? The potential role of systemic inflammation in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Sin DD, Man SF.

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12654609

This study analysed the association of cholesterol levels with the severity of airflow obstruction in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary (lung) disease. The study included 6,629 people aged 50 or over.

Sin notes that air flow obstructions elevate the risk of ischemic heart diseases, strokes, and sudden cardiac deaths 2- to 3-fold.

The study found:
(a) People with no air flow obstruction had the highest cholesterol.
(b) People with the most severe air flow obstruction had the lowest cholesterol.

The results of the study show that low cholesterol is associated with a higher severity of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease which leads to a  2- to 3-fold increased risk of ischemic heart disease, stroke, and sudden cardiac death.

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Higher cholesterol levels associated with lower death rates

This study was published in the Archives of Internal Medicine 1992 Jul;152(7):1490-500

Study title and authors:

Serum cholesterol level and mortality findings for men screened in the Multiple Risk Factor Intervention Trial. Multiple Risk Factor Intervention Trial Research Group.

Neaton JD, Blackburn H, Jacobs D, Kuller L, Lee DJ, Sherwin R, Shih J, Stamler J, Wentworth D.

Division of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis 55414.

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1627030

The study investigated the relationship between cholesterol levels and death rates. The study included 350,977 men aged 35 to 57 who were followed for 12 years.

The study found those men who had cholesterol levels between 200-239 mg/dL (5.1-6.2 mmol/L) had a 12% lower death rate than those men with cholesterol levels below 160 mg/dL (4.1 mmol/L).

Links to other studies:
Declining cholesterol rates in people over 65 are associated with a 630% increase in death rates
Low cholesterol leads to 80% higher death rates from nonvascular causes
Low cholesterol and increased mortality in men and women

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Transient global amnesia associated with statin intake

This paper was published in the British Medical Journal Case Reports 2009;2009. pii: bcr06.2008.0033

Study title and authors:

Transient global amnesia associated with statin intake.

Healy D, Morgan R, Chinnaswamy S.

Cardiff University, Psychological Medicine, Hergest Unit, Bangor, LL57 2PW, U K.

This paper can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21686951

A 57-year-old man treated with statins developed a range of amnestic features that led to concerns he might be suicidal; however, he did not appear to have depression. His problems began after starting rosuvastatin and cleared on discontinuation.

The 57-year-old man mentioned above is only one case. To see more evidence of the relationship between statins and transient global amnesia visit the spacedoc website which is run by a retired family doctor Duane Graveline MD MPH.

In his career Dr Graveline was also a USAF Flight Surgeon and a NASA Astronaut.

Dr Graveline suffered from episodes of transient global amnesia after starting statin therapy. Read about his experience and the experiences of many others here.

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Low cholesterol levels are associated with meningococcal sepsis

This study was published in Critical Care Medicine 2005 Jul;33(7):1610-5

Study title and authors:
Serum lipids and disease severity in children with severe meningococcal sepsis.

Vermont CL, den Brinker M, Kâkeci N, de Kleijn ED, de Rijke YB, Joosten KF, de Groot R, Hazelzet JA.
Department of Pediatrics, Erasmus MC, Sophia, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16003070

Meningococcal sepsis is where bacteria has invaded the bloodstream. This results in fever, irritability, headaches and a stiff neck. Once the bacteria is in the blood, it begins to attack organs and cause internal bleeding and can be fatal within a matter of  hours.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the role of cholesterol levels in children with severe meningococcal sepsis. The study included 57 patients admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit with meningococcal sepsis or septic shock.

The study found:
(a) Cholesterol levels on admission to the pediatric intensive care unit were very low in all patients.
(b) Cholesterol levels were significantly lower in nonsurvivors than in survivors.
(c) The lower the cholesterol levels - the more severe the illness.

The results of the study show that low cholesterol levels are associated with meningococcal sepsis and the lower the cholesterol are - the more severe the disease is.

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Rising cholesterol levels predict survival, whilst falling cholesterol levels predicts death in people who have suffered severe injuries

This study was published in Critical Care 2003 Dec;7(6):R145-53

Study title and authors:

Following severe injury, hypocholesterolemia improves with convalescence but persists with organ failure or onset of infection.

Dunham CM, Fealk MH, Sever WE 3rd.

Assistant Director, Trauma/Critical Care Services, St, Elizabeth Health Center, Youngstown, Ohio, USA. Michael_Dunham@hmis.org

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14624689

The objective of the study was to determine the association of cholesterol levels and severe traumatic injury. The study included 28 severely injured trauma patients.

The study found:
(a) The cholesterol levels in those who survived their severe injuries increased by 28%.
(b) The cholesterol levels of those who died of their severe injuries decreased by 33%.

The resulys of the study show that a rising cholesterol level predicts survival, and a falling cholesterol level predicts death in people who have suffered severe injuries.

Links to other studies:
A review of 150 studies finds an association between low cholesterol and death from injury
Lowering cholesterol levels lead to an increase in death from accidents, suicide, and violence

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The adverse health effects of low cholesterol

This paper was published in Beijing Da Xue Xue Bao (Journal of Peking University) 2010 Oct 18;42(5):612-5

Study title and authors:
Primary and secondary hypocholesterolemia

Song JX, Ren JY, Chen H.
Department of Cardiology, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing 100044, China.

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20957025

In this review of the literature Song examines the influence of low cholesterol levels (hypocholesterolemia) on health.

He found:
(a) Low cholesterol levels are common in the population.
(b) Physicians pay little attention to the diseases, causes and consequences of low cholesterol in clinical practice.
(c) Low cholesterol levels can result in some adverse events, such as increased death rates, intracerebral hemorrhage, cancer, infection, adrenal failure, suicide and mental disorder.
(d) Despite the adverse health consequences of low cholesterol, physicians are increasingly prescribing cholesterol lowering treatments such as statin drugs.

With all the adverse health effects of low cholesterol Song concludes: "It's high time that physicians attached more importance to hypocholesterolemia."

Links to other studies:
Stroke patients with low cholesterol are more likely to die and have poor neurological outcomes
Low cholesterol levels lead to a 20.2% increase in death rates in those who have had a stroke
Low cholesterol and serious complications after an ischemic stroke

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Low cholesterol is associated with higher death rates in hospital patients

This study was published in the Annals of Clinical Biochemistry 1999 Sep;36 ( Pt 5):613-6

Study title and authors:

Hypocholesterolaemia in a hospital population.

Crook MA, Velauthar U, Moran L, Griffiths W.

Department of Chemical Pathology, Lewisham Hospital, London, UK.

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10505211

The study examined the effects of low cholesterol in patients admitted to a hospital. 57 patients, average age 53, with various conditions and diseases were identified with cholesterol levels less than 3.0 mmol/L (116 mg/dL).

The study found:
(a) 18% of the patients with cholesterol levels less than 3.0 mmol/L (116 mg/dL) died during their hospitalization.
(b) 39% of the patients with cholesterol levels less than 2.0 mmol/L (77 mg/dL) died during their hospitalization.
(c) 71% of the patients with cholesterol levels less than 1.5 mmol/L (58 mg/dL) died during their hospitalization.

The findings of this study show low cholesterol is associated with higher death rates in hospital patients.

Links to other studies:
20 year study shows those with the lowest cholesterol levels have a 35% increase in death rates compared to those with the highest cholesterol
Older people with the highest cholesterol live the longest
30% higher death rate for men with falling cholesterol levels

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Low cholesterol levels associated with fatigue and depression

This study was published in the Journal of Psychosomatic Research 2002 Feb;52(2):61-3

Study title and authors:

Cholesterol and mood states at 3 days after delivery.

Nasta MT, Grussu P, Quatraro RM, Cerutti R, Grella PV.

Institute of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Padua, Padua, Italy.

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11832250

The aim of the study was to investigate the relationship between cholesterol and mood states in women immediately following childbirth. The study included 72 women who had their mood analysed and cholesterol levels measured three days after giving birth.

The study found that women with lower cholesterol levels immediately following childbirth had major feelings of fatigue and a depressed mood.

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Aspirin use is associated with a significantly increased risk of pancreatic cancer

This study was published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute 2004 Jan 7;96(1):22-8

Study title and authors:

A prospective study of aspirin use and the risk of pancreatic cancer in women.

Schernhammer ES, Kang JH, Chan AT, Michaud DS, Skinner HG, Giovannucci E, Colditz GA, Fuchs CS.

Channing Laboratory, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA. eva.schernhammer@channing.harvard.edu

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14709735

The study examined the relationship between aspirin use and the development of pancreatic cancer. The study included 88,378 women over a 18 year period.

The study found:
(a) Women who took 2 or more standard aspirin tablets per week had a 20% increased risk of pancreatic cancer compared to women who took fewer than 2 aspirins per week.
(b) Compared to women that have never had aspirin;
(i) women who had 1-3 tablets a week had an 11% increase in pancreatic cancer
(ii) women who had 4-6 tablets a week had an 29% increase in pancreatic cancer
(iii) women who had 7-13 tablets a week had an 41% increase in pancreatic cancer
(iv) women who had over 14 tablets a week had an 86% increase in pancreatic cancer
(c) Women who reported more than 20 years of regular aspirin use had a 58% increased risk of pancreatic cancer.

The study shows that regular aspirin use is associated with a significantly increased risk of pancreatic cancer among women.

Links to other studies:
Does aspirin increase the risk of heart disease and stroke?
Ibuprofen increases the risk of breast cancer by 51%
Statins increase the risk of colon adenomas by 54%

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Low cholesterol levels are associated with poor memory

This study was published in Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology 2008 Aug;28(8):1556-62

Study title and authors:

Low HDL cholesterol is a risk factor for deficit and decline in memory in midlife: the Whitehall II study.

Singh-Manoux A, Gimeno D, Kivimaki M, Brunner E, Marmot MG.

INSERM U687-IFR69, Hôpital Paul Brousse, Bât 15/16, 16 Avenue Paul Vaillant Couturier, 94807 Villejuif Cedex, France. Archana.Singh-Manoux@inserm.fr

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18591462

The study investigated the association of cholesterol levels with memory. 3,673 male and female participants, average age 61, were subjected to a short-term verbal memory test.

The study found:
(a) Poor memory was found in 53% more subjects with the lowest levels of high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, below 40 mg/dL (1.0 mmol/L), compared to those with the highest levels of high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, above 60 mg/dL (1.5 mmol/L).
(b) Poor memory was found in 10% more subjects with the lowest levels of cholesterol, below 200 mg/dL (5.1 mmol/L), compared to those with the highest levels of cholesterol 240 mg/dL (6.2 mmol/L).

The results of the study indicate that low cholesterol levels are associated with poor memory.

Links to other studies:
High cholesterol levels boost memory function
High cholesterol levels are associated with higher intelligence

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High cholesterol levels lead to a longer life in very old people

This study was published in the Journal of Aging and Health 1996 May;8(2):220-37

Study title and authors:
Survival in the oldest old: death risk factors in old and very old subjects.

Dontas AS, Toupadaki N, Tzonou A, Kasviki-Charvati P.
Center of Studies of Age-Related Changes in Man.

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10160559

This study investigated which factors predict survival in the ninth decade of life. The study included 210 subjects aged 68 to 79 and 287 subjects aged over 80.

Hematocrit is a measurement of how much space in the blood is occupied by red blood cells

The study found:
(a) In those aged 68 to 79, high  hematocrit levels predicted survival.
(b) In those aged 80 or over, high hematocrit levels predicted survival.
(c) In those aged 80 or over, high cholesterol levels, 8.0 mmol/l (309 mg/dL) or over, as compared with low cholesterol levels, 5.9 mmol/l (228 mg/dL) or under, predicted survival.

The data from the study shows that high high hematocrit levels and high cholesterol levels lead to a longer life in very old people.

Foods high in iron and protein such as liver, egg yolk and beef raise hematocrit levels.

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Analysis of 519,643 people reveals low cholesterol increases the risk of dying from pancreatic cancer by 27%

This study was published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention 2006 Dec;15(12):2435-40

 

Study title and authors:

The effect of modifiable risk factors on pancreatic cancer mortality in populations of the Asia-Pacific region.

Ansary-Moghaddam A, Huxley R, Barzi F, Lawes C, Ohkubo T, Fang X, Jee SH, Woodward M; Asia Pacific Cohort Studies Collaboration.

The George Institute, University of Sydney, Australia.

 

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17164367

This analysis of 30 studies assessed the connection between cholesterol levels and death rates from pancreatic cancer. The study included 519,643 men and women with 3,558,733 person-years of follow-up.

This analysis of  519,643 people revealed that those with the lowest cholesterol, below 4.8 mmol/L (185 mg/dL) had a 27% increased risk of dying from pancreatic cancer compared to those with the highest cholesterol, over 5.8 mmol/L (224 mg/dL).

Links to other studies:
Red meat and eggs decrease the risk of pancreatic cancer
High margarine consumption is associated with an increased risk of pancreatic cancer
High consumption of soft drinks lead to a 93% increased risk of pancreatic cancer

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Low cholesterol levels linked with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis

This study was published in Metabolism 2006 Jul;55(7):980-8

Study title and authors:
Altered lipid, apolipoprotein, and lipoprotein profiles in inflammatory bowel disease: consequences on the cholesterol efflux capacity of serum using Fu5AH cell system.

Ripollés Piquer B, Nazih H, Bourreille A, Segain JP, Huvelin JM, Galmiche JP, Bard JM.
Laboratoire de Biochimie Générale et Appliquée, UFR de Pharmacie, Université de Nantes, 44035 Nantes, France.

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16784973

This study examined the association of cholesterol levels with inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. The study included 21 patients with inflammatory bowel diseases and 28 healthy subjects.

The study found that the patients with inflammatory bowel diseases had significantly lower levels of cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol than the healthy subjects.

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Low cholesterol is significantly associated with schizophrenia

This study was published in Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica 2003 Sep;108(3):208-14

Study title and authors:

Serum leptin and cholesterol levels in schizophrenic patients with and without suicide attempts.

Atmaca M, Kuloglu M, Tezcan E, Ustundag B.

Departments of Psychiatry and Clinical Biochemistry, Firat University, School of Medicine, Elazig, Turkey. matmaca_p@yahoo.com

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12890276

The study examined the association of cholesterol levels in schizophrenic patients with and without suicide attempts. The study included 16 medication-free schizophrenic patients with and without suicide attempts and in 16 healthy controls.

The study found:
(a) The schizophrenic patients had lower cholesterol levels compared with the controls.
(b) The schizophrenic patients who had attempted suicide had significantly lower cholesterol levels compared with the schizophrenic patients who had not.
(c) Cholesterol levels were lower in violent suicide attempters when compared with non-violent suicide attempters.

The results of the study show that low cholesterol is significantly associated with schizophrenia, especially in suicide attempters and even more so in violent suicide attempters.

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High cholesterol levels are linked to a longer life

This paper was published in Circulation 1992 Sep;86(3):1046-60

Study title and authors:

Report of the Conference on Low Blood Cholesterol: Mortality Associations.

Jacobs D, Blackburn H, Higgins M, Reed D, Iso H, McMillan G, Neaton J, Nelson J, Potter J, Rifkind B, et al.

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1355411

This paper featured an analysis of 18 studies that compared cholesterol levels with death rates. The  studies lasted between 9 and 30 years and included 172,760 men and 124,814 women.

The analysis found:
(a) Women with the highest cholesterol levels (over 240 mg/dL or 6.2 mmol/L) had 13% lower death rates than women with the lowest cholesterol (below 160 mg/dL or 4.1 mmol/L).
(b) Men with the highest cholesterol levels (over 240 mg/dL or 6.2 mmol/L) had 3% lower death rates than men with the lowest cholesterol (below 160 mg/dL or 4.1 mmol/L).

The results of this analysis of 18 studies shows that higher cholesterol levels are linked to a longer life.

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People with low cholesterol are more prone to coughs, colds, runny noses and sore throats

This study was published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine 1992 Mar-Apr;8(2):100-3

Study title and authors:

Effect of minor illness on serum cholesterol level.

Hyman DJ, Barrett DC, Fortmann SP.

Stanford Center for Research in Disease Prevention, Stanford University, Palo Alto, California 94304-1885.

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1599716

This study investigated the association of cholesterol levels with a minor illness. The study included 6,880 people who had their cholesterol levels measured. Additionally a further 162 people were followed for six years. Minor illnesses include coughs, colds, runny noses and sore throats.

In the main study
(a) Those who had a minor illness on the day their cholesterol was measured had 2.7% lower cholesterol levels compared to healthy subjects.
(b) Those who had a minor illness on the day their high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol was measured had 2.1% lower HDL cholesterol levels compared to healthy subjects.

In the six year study those with a minor illness had 2.2% lower cholesterol levels compared to healthy subjects.

The results of the study indicate that people with low cholesterol are more prone to minor illnesses such as coughs, colds, runny noses and sore throats.

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