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.