High LDL cholesterol levels associated with a reduced risk of diabetes

This study was published in Diabetologia 2015 Sep 26

Study title and authors:
Low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations and risk of incident diabetes: epidemiological and genetic insights from the Framingham Heart Study.

Andersson C, Lyass A, Larson MG, Robins SJ, Vasan RS
Framingham Heart Study, 73 Mt Wayte Avenue, Suite 2, Framingham, MA, 01702-5827, USA. ca@heart.dk.

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26409460

One of the aims of this study was to assess the association of low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels with diabetes risk. The study included 6,011 individuals, (average age 50 years), who were not treated with cholesterol lowering or antihypertensive medications and who were free from cardiovascular disease at the start of the study. Diabetes was assessed at the next examination (average 4.5 years later).

The study found that each standard deviation increase in LDL levels was associated with a 19% reduced risk of diabetes. 

Andersson concluded: "These observations may contribute to our understanding of why lipid-lowering treatment may cause diabetes in some individuals."