inspiring canadians to live better.

healthing leaf

inspiring canadians to live better.

healthing leaf
mosquito-borne diseases affect up to 700 million people each year. learn more
powered by: valneva canada inc.
home / 世界杯决赛2022

study casts doubt on benefits of 'good' cholesterol

the study found that low levels of “good” cholesterol predicted more risk for heart attack in white adults, but not in black.

by liz braun

nov 22 2022
read time 2 minute read
join the conversation

a study published in the journal of the american college of cardiology casts some doubt on the usefulness of so-called “good” cholesterol.

the study suggests higher levels of hdl do not reduce the risk of heart disease.

in their report, the daily mail stated , “researchers found that high levels of high-density lipoprotein (hdl) were not associated with a lower risk of developing heart disease.”

and, “hdl absorbs cholesterol in the arteries and ferries it back to the liver, which then flushes it from the body. for this reason it had been dubbed ‘good’ cholesterol.”
the “bad” cholesterol that damages blood vessels walls and causes plaque is ldl cholesterol, the basis of a very large industry in statin drugs.
the study analyzed data taken over a decade from 24,000 americans who participated in the federal reasons for geographic and racial differences in stroke survey (between 2003 and 2007).
the main goal was determining whether hdl really is a beneficial cholesterol — and if it’s beneficial for all ethnicities.
the study found that low levels of “good” cholesterol predicted more risk for heart attack in white adults, but not in black.
and high “good” cholesterol did not seem to reduce heart disease risk in either white or black participants.

recommended video

powered by
canadian centre for caregiving excellence

advertisement

high levels of ldl or “bad” cholesterol in adults did indicate a small increased risk for cardiovascular disease — as per many previous studies.
senior author of the study, dr. nathalie pamir, an associate professor of medicine at oregon health and science university, said she hopes the research indicates a need to revisit the risk-predicting algorithm for cardiovascular disease.
“it could mean that in the future we don’t get a pat on the back by our doctors for having higher hdl cholesterol levels.”
the work done by the oregon team adds to a growing body of evidence that too much “good” cholesterol is not necessarily helpful — and may actually be bad for health.
other studies have shown the benefit of modest amounts of hdl —  as both high and low levels had increased heart attack risks.
high levels of hdl are also believed to hasten plaque accumulation and atherosclerosis.
cholesterol levels are sometimes genetic; diet and lifestyle changes can help control some cholesterol issues.
powered by
obesity matters

comments

postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion and encourage all readers to share their views on our articles. comments may take up to an hour for moderation before appearing on the site. we ask you to keep your comments relevant and respectful. we have enabled email notifications—you will now receive an email if you receive a reply to your comment, there is an update to a comment thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. visit our community guidelines for more information and details on how to adjust your email settings.