High LDL cholesterol helps you live longer

This study was published in Atherosclerosis 2015 Jan 14;239(1):137-142

 

Study title and authors:

Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol was inversely associated with 3-year all-cause mortality among Chinese oldest old: Data from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey.

Lv YB, Yin ZX, Chei CL, Qian HZ, Kraus VB, Zhang J, Brasher MS, Shi XM, Matchar DB, Zeng Y.

Division of Non-Communicable Disease Control and Community Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China.

 

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25602855

This study examined the relationship between LDL-Cholesterol and all-cause mortality among the elderly. The study included 935 participants, aged 80 and older, who were followed for three years.

The study found:
(a) Each 1 mmol/L (38 mg/dL) increase of LDL-Cholesterol concentration corresponded to a 19% decreased risk of death. 
(b) Those with a LDL-Cholesterol concentration of more than 3.37 mmol/L (130 mg/dL) had a 40% decreased risk of death. 

The researchers concluded: "Higher LDL-Cholesterol level was associated with lower risk of all-cause mortality. Our findings suggested the necessity of re-evaluating the optimal level of LDL-Cholesterol among the oldest old".

Low cholesterol levels predict high death rates in the very elderly

This study was published in Clinical Interventions in Aging 2014 Feb 13;9:293-300

Study title and authors:
Serum total cholesterol concentration and 10-year mortality in an 85-year-old population.

Takata Y, Ansai T, Soh I, Awano S, Nakamichi I, Akifusa S, Goto K, Yoshida A, Fujii H, Fujisawa R, Sonoki K
Division of General Internal Medicine, School of Oral Health Science, Kyushu Dental College, Kitakyushu, Japan.

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24611005

This study evaluated the effect of cholesterol levels with death rates in the very elderly. The study included 207 very elderly (85-year-old) participants who were followed for ten years. The participants were allocated into three groups:
(i) High cholesterol: more than 209 mg/dL (5.4 mmol/L)
(ii) Intermediate cholesterol: between 176-208 mg/dL (4.5-5.3 mmol/L)
(iii) Low cholesterol: less than 175 mg/dL (4.5 mmol/L)

The study found:
(a) The group with the lowest cholesterol levels had a 72% higher death rate compared to the group with the highest cholesterol.
(b) Death rates decreased by 0.9% with each 1 mg/dL increase in cholesterol levels.
(c) Death rates decreased by 0.8% with each 1 mg/dL increase in low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels.
(d) Death rates decreased by 1.0% with each 1 mg/dL increase in high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels.
(e) Death rates decreased by 0.3% with each 1 mg/dL increase in triglyceride levels.

Takata concluded: "These findings suggest that low TC (total cholesterol) and low LDL-C may be independent predictors of high mortality in the very elderly".

Low LDL cholesterol levels are associated with reduced survival in elderly patients with heart failure

This study was published in Cardiology 2014;127(1):45-50

Study title and authors:
Low levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol: a negative predictor of survival in elderly patients with advanced heart failure.

Charach G, Rabinovich A, Ori A, Weksler D, Sheps D, Charach L, Weintraub M, George J.
The Department of Internal Medicine 'C', Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Affiliated to the Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24217704

This study aimed to examine the impact of statins and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels on survival rates in elderly patients with moderate and severe heart failure. The study included 212 patients, average age 77 years, who were followed for 3.7 years. The patients were divided into three groups according to LDL cholesterol levels:
(i) Group one had LDL cholesterol levels less than 90 mg/dL (2.32 mmol/l).
(ii) Group two had LDL cholesterol levels between 90-115 mg/dL (2.32-3.00 mmol/l).
(iii) Group three had LDL cholesterol levels above 115 mg/dL (3.00 mmol/l).

The study found:
(a) The total cholesterol levels of group one patients was 31% lower than group three patients.
(b) Group one patients were over twice as likely to be on statins than group three patients.
(c) Only 34% of group one patients survived longer than 50 months whereas 58% of group three patients survived longer than 50 months.

Charach concluded: "Low LDL cholesterol levels are associated with a reduced survival in elderly patients with clinically controlled moderate and severe heart failure. Statins were independently and significantly associated with a higher risk of mortality".

Low cholesterol levels are associated with higher death rates

This study was published in the Scandinavian Journal of Primary Health Care 2013 Sep;31(3):172-80

Study title and authors:
Association of lipoprotein levels with mortality in subjects aged 50 + without previous diabetes or cardiovascular disease: a population-based register study.

Bathum L, Depont Christensen R, Engers Pedersen L, Lyngsie Pedersen P, Larsen J, Nexøe J.
Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Slagelse Hospital, Region Zealand, Denmark. lbat@regionsjaelland.dk

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23941088

This study aimed to investigate the association of cholesterol levels with death rates in men and women free from diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The study included 118,160 subjects, aged 50 and over, and lasted for nine years.

The study found:
(a) In men aged 50 - 60: Those with cholesterol levels between 6 - 7.99 mmol/L (232 - 309 mg/dL) had a 32% reduced risk of death compared to those with cholesterol levels below 5 mmol/L (193 mg/dL).
(b) In women aged 50 - 60: Those with cholesterol levels between 6 - 7.99 mmol/L (232 - 309 mg/dL) had a 29% reduced risk of death compared to those with cholesterol levels below 5 mmol/L (193 mg/dL).
(c) In men aged 60 - 70: Those with cholesterol levels between 6 - 7.99 mmol/L (232 - 309 mg/dL) had a 33% reduced risk of death compared to those with cholesterol levels below 5 mmol/L (193 mg/dL).
(d) In women aged 60 - 70: Those with cholesterol levels between 6 - 7.99 mmol/L (232 - 309 mg/dL) had a 41% reduced risk of death compared to those with cholesterol levels below 5 mmol/L (193 mg/dL).
(e) In men aged over 70: Those with cholesterol levels between 6 - 7.99 mmol/L (232 - 309 mg/dL) had a 38% reduced risk of death compared to those with cholesterol levels below 5 mmol/L (193 mg/dL).
(f) In women aged over 70: Those with cholesterol levels between 6 - 7.99 mmol/L (232 - 309 mg/dL) had a 41% reduced risk of death compared to those with cholesterol levels below 5 mmol/L (193 mg/dL).
(g) In both men and women between the ages of 50 -70: Cholesterol levels over 8 mmol/L (310 mg/dL) had no impact on death rates.
(g) (i) In men aged over 70: Those with cholesterol levels over 8 mmol/L (310 mg/dL) had a 33% reduced risk of death compared to those with cholesterol levels below 5 mmol/L (193 mg/dL).
(g) (ii) In women aged over 70: Those with cholesterol levels over 8 mmol/L (310 mg/dL) had a 41% reduced risk of death compared to those with cholesterol levels below 5 mmol/L (193 mg/dL).
(h) In men aged 50 - 60: Those with low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels over 4 mmol/L (154 mg/dL) had a 56% reduced risk of death compared to those with low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels below 2.5 mmol/L (96 mg/dL).
(i) In women aged 50 - 60: Those with low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels over 4 mmol/L (154 mg/dL) had a 31% reduced risk of death compared to those with low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels below 2.5 mmol/L (96 mg/dL).
(j) In men aged 60 - 70: Those with low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels over 4 mmol/L (154 mg/dL) had a 55% reduced risk of death compared to those with low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels below 2.5 mmol/L (96 mg/dL).
(k) In women aged 60 - 70: Those with low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels over 4 mmol/L (154 mg/dL) had a 53% reduced risk of death compared to those with low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels below 2.5 mmol/L (96 mg/dL).
(l) In men aged over 70: Those with low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels over 4 mmol/L (154 mg/dL) had a 37% reduced risk of death compared to those with low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels below 2.5 mmol/L (96 mg/dL).
(m) In women aged over 70: Those with low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels over 4 mmol/L (154 mg/dL) had a 40% reduced risk of death compared to those with low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels below 2.5 mmol/L (96 mg/dL).
(n) In men aged 50 - 60: Those with high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels between 1.5 - 1.9 mmol/L (58 - 76 mg/dL) had a 36% reduced risk of death compared to those with high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels below 1.0 mmol/L (38 mg/dL).
(o) In women aged 50 - 60: Those with high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels between 1.5 - 1.9 mmol/L (58 - 76 mg/dL) had a 60% reduced risk of death compared to those with high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels below 1.0 mmol/L (38 mg/dL).
(p) In men aged 60 - 70: Those with high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels between 1.5 - 1.9 mmol/L (58 - 76 mg/dL) had a 43% reduced risk of death compared to those with high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels below 1.0 mmol/L (38 mg/dL).
(q) In women aged 60 - 70: Those with high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels between 1.5 - 1.9 mmol/L (58 - 76 mg/dL) had a 65% reduced risk of death compared to those with high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels below 1.0 mmol/L (38 mg/dL).
(r) In men aged over 70: Those with high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels between 1.5 - 1.9 mmol/L (58 - 76 mg/dL) had a 35% reduced risk of death compared to those with high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels below 1.0 mmol/L (38 mg/dL).
(s) In women aged over 70: Those with high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels between 1.5 - 1.9 mmol/L (58 - 76 mg/dL) had a 46% reduced risk of death compared to those with high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels below 1.0 mmol/L (38 mg/dL).

This study shows that low cholesterol levels, low LDL and HDL cholesterol levels are associated with higher death rates.

High cholesterol levels, and in particular, high levels of the so called "bad" LDL cholesterol are associated with a longer life span

This study was published in Age and Ageing 2008 Mar;37(2):207-13

Study title and authors:

Relation of plasma lipids to all-cause mortality in Caucasian, African-American and Hispanic elders.

Akerblom JL, Costa R, Luchsinger JA, Manly JJ, Tang MX, Lee JH, Mayeux R, Schupf N.

Department of Epidemiology, Columbia University, New York, USA.

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18349015

The objective of the study was to investigate the relationship of cholesterol levels to all-cause death rates in the non-demented elderly. The study included 2,556 non-demented elderly, aged between 65-103 years. Among participants, 66.1% were women, 27.6% were White, 31.2% were African-American and 41.2% were Hispanic.

The study found:
(a) The white's with the lowest cholesterol had a 120% increase in death rates compared to the white's with the highest cholesterol.
(b) The African-Americans with the lowest cholesterol had a 90% increase in death rates compared to the African-Americans with the highest cholesterol.
(c) Cholesterol levels were not related to death rates in Hispanics.
(d) The whites with the lowest levels of low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol had a 80% increase in death rates compared to the whites with the highest levels of low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol.
(e) The African-Americans with the lowest levels of low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol had a 90% increase in death rates compared to the African-Americans with the highest levels of low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol.
(f) The Hispanics with the lowest levels of low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol had a 40% increase in death rates compared to the Hispanics with the highest levels of low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol.

This study shows that higher cholesterol levels, and in particular, higher levels of the so called "bad" LDL cholesterol are associated with a longer life span.

Links to other studies:
A rise in total cholesterol reduces the risk of mortality in the oldest old
Low cholesterol and increased mortality in men and women
Low cholesterol and increased mortality and cancer in 40-69 year olds

Links to useful books;
The Great Cholesterol Con
Cholesterol and Saturated Fat Prevent Heart disease
Ignore the Awkward.: How the Cholesterol Myths Are Kept Alive