Low cholesterol levels predict death in patients with bacteria in the blood

This study was published in the Archives of Family Medicine 1995 Sep;4(9):785-9

Study title and authors:
Risk factors for the development of bacteremia in nursing home patients.

Richardson JP, Hricz L.
Department of Family Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA.

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7647945

The study examined the association between cholesterol levels and death rates in people with bacteremia (bacteremia is the presence of bacteria in the blood). The study included 26 patients who were admitted into a nursing home.

The study found that the only admission characteristic of patients that was associated with death caused by bacteremia was low cholesterol of 3.79 mmol/L (147 mg/dL) in patients who died, whereas patients who survived had higher cholesterol of 5.05 mmol/L (195 mg/dL).

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Low fat, low cholesterol diets result in lower cholesterol levels and a higher death rate

This study was published in Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology 1978;109:317-30

Study title and authors:

Low fat, low cholesterol diet in secondary prevention of coronary heart disease.

Woodhill JM, Palmer AJ, Leelarthaepin B, McGilchrist C, Blacket RB.

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/727035

The study set out to determine the effects of a low fat, low cholesterol diet on death rates in men with existing heart disease. The study included 458 men, aged 30 to 59, who were followed for up to seven years.

The men were allocated in groups to consume either:

(i) A low fat, low cholesterol diet.

(ii) Their usual diet.

The study found:

(a) The men following the low fat, low cholesterol diet lowered their cholesterol levels 4.5% more than the men following their usual diet.

(b) The men following the low fat, low cholesterol diet had 49% increased death rates compared to the men following their usual diet.

(c) The men following the low fat, low cholesterol diet had 44% increased heart disease death rates compared to the men following their usual diet.

The results of the study show that a low fat, low cholesterol diet results in lower cholesterol levels and a higher death rate.

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Analysis of six trials show that as cholesterol levels are lowered the death rate increases

This study was published in the British Medical Journal 1990 Aug 11;301(6747):309-14

Study title and authors:

Lowering cholesterol concentrations and mortality: a quantitative review of primary prevention trials.

Muldoon MF, Manuck SB, Matthews KA.

Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, PA 15260.

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2144195

This study analysed the findings of six cholesterol reduction trials. The participants in the six cholesterol reduction trials received either diet based, drug based, a mixture of diet and drug cholesterol lowering treatment or placebo. The trials lasted for an average of 4.8 years and included 24,847 male participants who were followed for a total of 119,000 person years. The average age of the men was 47.5 years.

The analysis found:
(a) The men receiving cholesterol reduction treatment reduced their cholesterol levels by about 10%.
(b) The men receiving cholesterol reduction treatment had a 7% increase in death rates compared to the men taking a placebo.

The results of this analysis of six trials show that as cholesterol levels are lowered the death rate increases.

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High-fat, low-carbohydrate diets are a feasible long-term treatment for type 1 diabetes

This study was published in Upsala Journal of Medical Science 2005;110(3):267-73

Study title and authors:

A low carbohydrate diet in type 1 diabetes: clinical experience--a brief report.

Nielsen JV, Jönsson E, Ivarsson A.

Department of Medicine, Blekingesjukhuset, Karlshamn, Sweden. jorgen.vesti-nielsen@ltblekinge.se

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16454166

This study examined the effects of a high-fat, low-carbohydrate, diet on 22 patients with type I diabetes who were failing to control fluctuations in their blood sugar levels in higher carbohydrate diets. The diet was limited to around 70-90 grams a day of carbohydrate and excluded potatoes, rice, pasta, bread and cereals. The diet consisted of 20% carbohydrate, 30% protein and 50% fat.

After 12 months on the high-fat, low-carbohydrate, diet, the study found:
(a) Hypoglycaemic episodes (where the blood glucose levels drop to abnormally low dangerous values) decreased from 2.9 episodes per week to 0.5 episodes per week.
(b) Meal insulin requirements decreased from 21.1 Iu per day to 12.4 Iu per day.
(c) Unhealthy high triglyceride levels decreased by 33%.

This study shows that a high-fat, low-carbohydrate, diet is a feasible long-term treatment of type 1 diabetes and leads to improved blood glucose control.

Links to other studies:
Reduced saturated fat consumption has led to vitamin D deficiency
The beneficial effects of a low carbohydrate diet for diabetes
Type I diabetics have better blood sugar control on a high fat diet

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Higher cholesterol levels and higher meat consumption are associated with decreased rates of heart disease deaths

This study was published in the Journal of Internal Medicine 1995 Jan;237(1):49-54

 

Study title and authors:

High serum alpha-tocopherol, albumin, selenium and cholesterol, and low mortality from coronary heart disease in northern Finland.

Luoma PV, Näyhä S, Sikkilä K, Hassi J.

Oulu Regional Institute of Occupational Health, University of Oulu, Finland.

 

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7830030

The study investigated the risk factors for, and the rates of heart disease deaths in northernmost Finland compared with southern areas of Finland. The study lasted for nine years and included 350 participants, average age 46 years.

The study found:
(a) The death rates from heart disease were 17% lower in northernmost Finland compared with southern areas of Finland.
(b) Cholesterol levels were 6.3% higher in northernmost Finland compared with southern areas of Finland.
(c) Low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels were 7.0%  higher in northernmost Finland compared with southern areas of Finland.
(d) Vitamin E levels were 14.2% higher in northernmost Finland compared with southern areas of Finland.
(e) Vitamin E levels increased with the consumption of reindeer meat.

The results of the study show that higher cholesterol levels and higher meat consumption are associated with decreased rates of heart disease deaths.

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Low HDL cholesterol levels are associated with increases in deaths from heart disease and cancer

This study was published in Arteriosclerosis 1988 Nov-Dec;8(6):737-41

Study title and authors:

High density lipoprotein cholesterol and mortality. The Framingham Heart Study.

Wilson PW, Abbott RD, Castelli WP.

Framingham Epidemiology Research Section, NHLBI, Massachusetts.

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3196218

This 12 year study examined the association of high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels with death rates from heart disease and cancer. The study included 2,748 participants aged 50 to 79.

The study found:
(a) Both men and women with the highest HDL cholesterol levels also had the highest total cholesterol levels.
(b) Men with the lowest HDL cholesterol levels had a 92% increase in death rates compared to the men with the highest HDL cholesterol levels.
(c) Women with the lowest HDL cholesterol levels had a 47% increase in death rates compared to the women with the highest HDL cholesterol levels.
(d) Men with the lowest HDL cholesterol levels had a 309% increase in heart disease death rates compared to the men with the highest HDL cholesterol levels.
(e) Women with the lowest HDL cholesterol levels had a 207% increase in heart disease death rates compared to the women with the highest HDL cholesterol levels.
(f) Men with the lowest HDL cholesterol levels had a 17% increase in cancer death rates compared to the men with the highest HDL cholesterol levels.
(g) Women with the lowest HDL cholesterol levels had an 8% increase in cancer death rates compared to the women with the highest HDL cholesterol levels.

The results of this study show that men and women with the lowest HDL cholesterol levels also had the lowest total cholesterol levels, and that low HDL cholesterol levels are associated with increases in deaths from heart disease and cancer.

Eating a diet rich in saturated fat is the best way to raise HDL cholesterol levels. See here.

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Higher cholesterol levels lead to a longer life

This study was published in the Journal of Gerontology 1993 May;48(3):M103-7

 

Study title and authors:

Morbidity and mortality in rural community-dwelling elderly with low total serum cholesterol.

Ives DG, Bonino P, Traven ND, Kuller LH.

Department of Epidemiology, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh.

 

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=8482813

The objective of this two year study was to examine the association of cholesterol levels with death rates in the elderly. The study included 3,874 participants aged 65 to 79. Those with cholesterol levels of less than 150 mg/dL (3.9 mmol/l) were compared with those with cholesterol levels between 200-240 mg/dL (5.1-6.2 mmol/l).

After two years the study found that 12.8% of those with low cholesterol had died, whereas only 7.3% of those with the higher cholesterol had died.

The results of this study indicate that higher cholesterol levels lead to a longer life.

Links to other studies:
Low cholesterol associated with poor health and increased stroke and heart disease
Declining cholesterol rates in people over 65 are associated with a 630% increase in death rates
Older men with lower cholesterol have a 54% higher death rate

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