Low cholesterol levels are associated with higher death rates

This study was published in the Journal of Internal Medicine 2003 Feb;253(2):169-80

Study title and authors:

What cause of mortality can we predict by cholesterol screening in the Japanese general population?

Okamura T, Kadowaki T, Hayakawa T, Kita Y, Okayama A, Ueshima H; Nippon Data80 Research Group.

Department of Health Science, Shiga University of Medical Science, Seta Tsukinowa-cho, Otsu City, Shiga 520-2192, Japan. tokamura@belle.shiga-med.ac.jp

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12542557

This study investigated the association of cholesterol levels with death rates. The study included 9,216 persons aged 30 years and over who were followed for 13.2 years.

The study found:
(a) Men with the lowest cholesterol levels (less than 4.14 mmol/L or 160 mg/dL) had a 28% increase in death rates compared to men with the highest cholesterol levels (more than 6.21 mmol/L or 240 mg/dL).
(b) Women with the lowest cholesterol levels (less than 4.14 mmol/L or 160 mg/dL) had a 38% increase in death rates compared to women with the highest cholesterol levels (more than 6.21 mmol/L or 240 mg/dL).

The results of the study show that low cholesterol levels are associated with higher death rates.

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Statins associated with increased bleeding in the brain in patients with intracerebral hemorrhage

This study was published in Stroke 2012 Jul 24

Study title and authors:

Statin Use and Microbleeds in Patients With Spontaneous Intracerebral Hemorrhage.

Haussen DC, Henninger N, Kumar S, Selim M.

From the Harvard Medical School, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA.

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22829545

Microbleeds (or microhaemorrhages) are pinpoint drops of blood that leak from blood vessels in the brain and increase may increase the risk of stroke and cognitive dysfunction.

The cortico-subcortical region of the brain is the outer layers and the area beneath the outer layers.

The study investigated the effects that statin use had on microbleeds in patients with intracerebral hemorrhage. The study included 163 patients with intracerebral hemorrhage.

The study found:
(a) Statin users had significantly lower cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels compared to non users.
(b) Statins users had a 172% increase in microbleeds compared to non users.
(c) Statins users had a 315% increase in cortico-subcortical microbleeds compared to non users.

The study shows that statin use is associated with increased bleeding in the brain in patients with intracerebral hemorrhage.

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Low cholesterol levels are associated with a higher risk of stroke

This study was published in the Japanese Circulation Journal 1999 Jan;63(1):53-8

Study title and authors:

Low serum cholesterol as a risk factor for hemorrhagic stroke in men: a community-based mass screening in Okinawa, Japan.

Okumura K, Iseki K, Wakugami K, Kimura Y, Muratani H, Ikemiya Y, Fukiyama K.

Third Department of Internal Medicine, University of The Ryukyus, Okinawa, Japan.

This study was published in: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10084389

This study investigated the relationship between cholesterol levels and stroke. The study included 38,053 subjects, aged 33 to 93 who were followed for three years.

The study found:
(a) Men who had the highest cholesterol levels, (218 mg/dL or 5.6 mmol/L), had a 9% reduced risk of stroke compared to men with the lowest cholesterol levels (167 mg/dL or 4.3 mmol/L).
(b) Women who had the highest cholesterol levels, (218 mg/dL or 5.6 mmol/L), had a 2% reduced risk of stroke compared to women with the lowest cholesterol levels (167 mg/dL or 4.3 mmol/L).

The study reveals that low cholesterol levels are associated with a higher risk of stroke.

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Higher cholesterol levels are associated with a decreased risk of stroke

This study was published in Stroke 1997 Jan;28(1):45-52

Study title and authors:
A 15.5-year follow-up study of stroke in a Japanese provincial city. The Shibata Study.

Nakayama T, Date C, Yokoyama T, Yoshiike N, Yamaguchi M, Tanaka H.
Department of Epidemiology, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Japan. takeo.epi@mri.tmd.ac.jp

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8996487

The study investigated various factors that are associated with the risk of stroke. The study included 2,302 subjects aged 40 years or older who were followed for 15.5 years.

Regarding cholesterol levels, the study found:
(a) In men, every 1.21 mmolL (46.7 mg/dL) increase in cholesterol levels was associated with a 13% decreased risk of stroke.
(b) In women, every 1.21 mmolL (46.7 mg/dL) increase in cholesterol levels was associated with a 1% decreased risk of stroke.

The data from the study indicates that higher cholesterol levels are associated with a decreased risk of stroke.

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High saturated fat diets reduce the risk of intraparenchymal hemorrhage

This study was published in the American Journal of Epidemiology 2003 Jan 1;157(1):32-9

Study title and authors:

Fat and protein intakes and risk of intraparenchymal hemorrhage among middle-aged Japanese.

Iso H, Sato S, Kitamura A, Naito Y, Shimamoto T, Komachi Y.

Department of Public Health Medicine, Institute of Community Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki-ken, Japan. fvgh5640@mb.infoweb.ne.jp

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12505888

The study examined the relationship between intakes of saturated fat and animal protein and the risk of intraparenchymal hemorrhage. (An intraparenchymal hemorrhage is a type of stroke where bleeding occurs within the brain tissue). The study lasted for 14 years and included 4,775 participants aged 40-69 years.

The study found:
(a) Those who consumed the most fat had a 54% reduced risk of intraparenchymal hemorrhage compared to those who consumed the least fat.
(b) Those who consumed the most saturated fat had a 70% reduced risk of intraparenchymal hemorrhage compared to those who consumed the least saturated fat.
(c) Those who consumed the most cholesterol had a 29% reduced risk of intraparenchymal hemorrhage compared to those who consumed the least cholesterol.
(d) Those who consumed the most animal protein had a 40% reduced risk of intraparenchymal hemorrhage compared to those who consumed the least animal protein.

The results of the study show that a high consumption of saturated fat and foods of animal origin reduce the risk of intraparenchymal hemorrhage.

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High levels of HDL cholesterol are associated with better survival in people aged over 80

This study was published in Gerontology 2008;54(2):71-8

Study title and authors
Serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels and mortality in frail, community-living elderly.

Landi F, Russo A, Pahor M, Capoluongo E, Liperoti R, Cesari M, Bernabei R, Onder G.
Department of Gerontology and Geriatrics, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy. francesco_landi@rm.unicatt.it

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18025809

The object of the study was to evaluate the impact of high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol on death rates in older people. The two year study analyzed HDL cholesterol data from 359 subjects aged 80 years and older.

The study found:
(a) The HDL cholesterol levels of men that died was 36.7 mg/dL (.9 mmol/l), whereas the HDL cholesterol levels in the men who survived was 43.3 mg/dL (1.1 mmol/l).
(b) The HDL cholesterol levels of women that died was 42.2 mg/dL (1.1 mmol/l), whereas the HDL cholesterol levels in the women who survived was 49.3 mg/dL (1.3 mmol/l).

The results of this study show that high levels of HDL cholesterol are associated with better survival in people aged over 80.

An analysis of 27 trials found the best way to raise HDL cholesterol is to eat saturated fat. See here. 

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High cholesterol levels reduce the risk of stomach cancer

This study was published in Acta Oncologica 1988;27(1):39-42

Study title and authors:
Risk of stomach cancer in association with serum cholesterol and beta-lipoprotein.

Törnberg SA, Carstensen JM, Holm LE.
Department of General Oncology, Karolinska Sjukhuset, Stockholm, Sweden.

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3365353

Beta-lipoprotein equates to low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol.

This study investigated the relationship between cholesterol levels, beta-lipoprotein levels and the risk of stomach cancer. The study included 92,710 individuals who were followed for 18 years.

The study found:
(a) For every 40 mg/dL (1.03 mmol/L) increase in cholesterol there was a 15% reduced risk of stomach cancer.
(b) Increased levels of beta-lipoprotein were associated with a decreased risk of stomach cancer.

The results of the study show that higher levels of cholesterol are associated with a reduced risk of stomach cancer.

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