High cholesterol levels are associated with a 22% DECREASE in stroke incidence

The following study was published in Atherosclerosis 2011 Aug 22.

Study title and authors:

Comparison of risk factors for fatal stroke and ischemic heart disease: A prospective follow up of the health survey for England.
Hamer M, Batty GD, Stamatakis E, Kivimaki M.
Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, London, UK.

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21889146

The study compared risk factors for stroke and ischemic heart disease in 82,380 participants over a ten year period (average age 55.4 years) who had no history of cardiovascular diseases.

The study found:
(a) High total cholesterol levels had no bearing on heart disease rates.
(b) High total cholesterol levels were associated with a 22% decrease in stroke incidence.

To conclude: Another study that shows high cholesterol levels may in fact offer protection from cardiovascular diseases.

Links to books that expand on the subject of cholesterol and cardiovascular diseases:
Cholesterol and saturated fat prevent heart disease
Fat and cholesterol are good for you
The great cholesterol con