HEALTHY DIETS AND SCIENCE: Low cholesterol levels are associated with an increase in death rates especially from cancer

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, 20 December 2011

Low cholesterol levels are associated with an increase in death rates especially from cancer

This study was published in the British Medical Journal 1995 Aug 12;311(7002):409-13

Study title and authors:
Low serum total cholesterol concentrations and mortality in middle aged British men.

Wannamethee G, Shaper AG, Whincup PH, Walker M.
Department of Public Health, Royal Free Hospital School of Medicine, London.

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7640584

7,735 men aged 40-59 were followed for nearly 15 years to examine the relationship between low cholesterol levels and causes of mortality.

The study found:
(a) Men with low cholesterol (below 4.8 mmol/l (185 mg/dL)) had a 60% increase in total death rates compared to men with cholesterol between 4.8-5.9 mmol/l (185-228 mg/dL).
(b) Men with low cholesterol (below 4.8 mmol/l (185 mg/dL)) had a significant increase in cancer death rates compared to men with cholesterol between 4.8-5.9 mmol/l (185-228 mg/dL).
(c) Low cholesterol levels were associated with an increased prevalence of several diseases and indicators of ill health.

To conclude: Low cholesterol levels are associated with an increase in death rates especially from cancer.