The raison d'etre of this website is to provide you with hard scientific information which may help you make informed decisions in your quest for health (so far I have blogged concise summaries of over 1,500 scientific studies and have had three books published).

My research is mainly focused on the effects of cholesterol, saturated fat and statin drugs on health. If you know anyone who is worried about their cholesterol levels and heart disease, or has been told to take statin drugs you could send them a link to this website, and to my statin or cholesterol or heart disease books.

David Evans

Independent Health Researcher

Tuesday 6 April 2010

Low cholesterol and increased mortality in 36-65 year old men

This study was published in Circulation 1997; 96:2128-2136

Study title and author:
The Münster Heart Study (PROCAM)
Total Mortality in Middle-Aged Men Is Increased at Low Total and LDL Cholesterol Concentrations in Smokers but Not in Nonsmokers

Paul Cullen, MD, FRCPI; Helmut Schulte, PhD; ; Gerd Assmann, MD
From the Institutes of Arteriosclerosis Research (P.C., H.S., G.A.) and Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (G.A.), University of Münster (Germany).

The study can be accessed at: http://www.circ.ahajournals.org/cgi/content/full/96/7/2128#F2
The Great Cholesterol Con: The Truth About What Really Causes Heart Disease and How to Avoid It
Books:

The study investigated the relationship of cholesterol levels with mortality rates in 10,856 men aged 36 to 65 with up to 14 years of follow up.

The study found:
(a) Those with cholesterol levels between 213-231 mg/dL (5.5-6.0 mmol/l) had a 9.4% decreased risk of death compared to those with cholesterol levels below 190 mg/dL (4.9 mmol/l).
(b) Those with low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels between 138-155 mg/dL (3.5-4.0 mmol/l) had an 18% decreased risk of death compared to those with low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels below 117 mg/dL (3.0 mmol/l).
(c) Those with high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels over 55 mg/dL (1.4 mmol/l) had a 76% decreased risk of death compared to those with high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels below 37 mg/dL (.95 mmol/l).

This study shows there is an increase in mortality at low levels of total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and HDL cholesterol in middle-aged men.