Low cholesterol levels are linked to an earlier death

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This study was published in the Archives of Internal Medicine 2003 Jul 14;163(13):1549-54

Study title and authors:
High-density vs low-density lipoprotein cholesterol as the risk factor for coronary artery disease and stroke in old age.

Weverling-Rijnsburger AW, Jonkers IJ, van Exel E, Gussekloo J, Westendorp RG.
Section of Gerontology and Geriatrics, Department of General Internal Medicine, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands. a.w.e.weverling-rijnsburger@lumc.edu

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12860577

The aim of the study was to evaluate the relationships between cholesterol levels, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels and death rates. The study included 705 participants who had reached the age of 85 who were followed for four years.

The study found:
(a) Those with the lowest cholesterol (163-195 mg/dL or 4.2-5.0 mmol/l) had a 60% increase in death rates compared to those with the highest cholesterol (248-280 or 6.4-7.2 mmol/l).
(b) Those with the lowest LDL cholesterol (94-116 mg/dL or 2.4-3.0 mmol/l) had a 40% increase in death rates compared to those with the highest LDL cholesterol (165-196 or 4.3-5.0 mmol/l).
(c) Those with the lowest HDL cholesterol (32-40 mg/dL or .8-1.0 mmol/l) had a 70% increase in death rates compared to those with the highest HDL cholesterol (60-73 or 1.5-1.9 mmol/l).

The results of this study show that lower levels of cholesterol, low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol are linked to an earlier death.