High HDL cholesterol may also be detrimental, says study
Posted on: 13/Aug/2016 12:00:38 PM
A new study has shown that high levels of high-density lipoprotein, or HDL, cholesterol - commonly touted as good cholesterol for helping to reduce risk of stroke and heart attack - may increase a person`s risk of premature death as much as its low levels. According to the study, intermediate levels of HDL cholesterol may increase longevity. The study was conducted by researchers at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri. The study was published in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.
Say the researchers, The findings surprised us. Previously it was thought that raised levels of the good cholesterol were beneficial. The relationship between increased levels of HDL cholesterol and early death is unexpected.
Cholesterol is a fatty substance found in blood that can narrow and block heart vessels, causing cardiovascular disease and stroke. For years, HDL cholesterol has been credited with helping to remove plaque-building bad cholesterol from arteries.
More than 1.7 million male veterans were studied for kidney function and HDL cholesterol levels. This was done between October of 2003 and September of 2004. The participants were followed for ten years until September of 2013. In the study, the researchers showed that both high and low HDL cholesterol levels were associated with an increased risk of dying among study participants with all levels of kidney function.
Speaking about this, the researchers said, Too low and too high are both associated with higher risk of death. Whether maintaining intermediate HDL cholesterol levels may increase longevity will need to be explored in future studies.
