Low cholesterol levels are associated with a higher incidence of stroke

This study was published in Stroke 1982 Jan-Feb;13(1):62-73

Study title and authors:

Risk factors for cerebral hemorrhage and cerebral infarction in a Japanese rural community.

Tanaka H, Ueda Y, Hayashi M, Date C, Baba T, Yamashita H, Shoji H, Tanaka Y, Owada K, Detels R.

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7064181

The study investigated the influence of cholesterol levels on the rates of stroke. The study included 1,673 participants aged 40 years and older who were followed for ten years.

The study found:
(a) Those with the lowest cholesterol (under 129 mg/dL or 3.33 mmol/L) had a 184% increased risk of cerebral hemorrhage (ruptured blood vessel in the brain) compared to those with the highest cholesterol over 230 mg/dL (5.9 mmol/L).
(b) Those with the lowest cholesterol (under 129 mg/dL or 3.33 mmol/L) had a 27% increased risk of cerebral infarction (blocked blood vessel in the brain) compared to those with the highest cholesterol over 230 mg/dL (5.9 mmol/L).

The data from the study shows that low cholesterol levels are associated with a higher incidence of stroke.