People with low cholesterol are more prone to coughs, colds, runny noses and sore throats

This study was published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine 1992 Mar-Apr;8(2):100-3

Study title and authors:

Effect of minor illness on serum cholesterol level.

Hyman DJ, Barrett DC, Fortmann SP.

Stanford Center for Research in Disease Prevention, Stanford University, Palo Alto, California 94304-1885.

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1599716

This study investigated the association of cholesterol levels with a minor illness. The study included 6,880 people who had their cholesterol levels measured. Additionally a further 162 people were followed for six years. Minor illnesses include coughs, colds, runny noses and sore throats.

In the main study
(a) Those who had a minor illness on the day their cholesterol was measured had 2.7% lower cholesterol levels compared to healthy subjects.
(b) Those who had a minor illness on the day their high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol was measured had 2.1% lower HDL cholesterol levels compared to healthy subjects.

In the six year study those with a minor illness had 2.2% lower cholesterol levels compared to healthy subjects.

The results of the study indicate that people with low cholesterol are more prone to minor illnesses such as coughs, colds, runny noses and sore throats.