{"id":6429,"date":"2020-07-11T10:26:23","date_gmt":"2020-07-11T02:26:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/lifeclinic.com.hk\/potassium-the-top-electrolyte-everyone-needs-2\/"},"modified":"2025-04-14T11:37:01","modified_gmt":"2025-04-14T03:37:01","slug":"why-high-ldl-levels-may-not-be-a-good-predictor-of-heart-disease","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lifeclinic.com.hk\/why-high-ldl-levels-may-not-be-a-good-predictor-of-heart-disease\/","title":{"rendered":"Why High LDL Levels May Not be a Good Predictor of Heart Disease"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wpb-content-wrapper\"><div class=\"vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-12\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t<div  class=\"wpb_single_image wpb_content_element vc_align_left wpb_content_element\">\n\t\t\n\t\t<figure class=\"wpb_wrapper vc_figure\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"vc_single_image-wrapper   vc_box_border_grey\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1500\" src=\"https:\/\/lifeclinic.com.hk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Untitled-2000-\u00d7-1500px.png\" class=\"vc_single_image-img attachment-full\" alt=\"\" title=\"Untitled (2000 \u00d7 1500px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lifeclinic.com.hk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Untitled-2000-\u00d7-1500px.png 2000w, https:\/\/lifeclinic.com.hk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Untitled-2000-\u00d7-1500px-300x225.png 300w, https:\/\/lifeclinic.com.hk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Untitled-2000-\u00d7-1500px-1024x768.png 1024w, https:\/\/lifeclinic.com.hk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Untitled-2000-\u00d7-1500px-768x576.png 768w, https:\/\/lifeclinic.com.hk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Untitled-2000-\u00d7-1500px-1536x1152.png 1536w, https:\/\/lifeclinic.com.hk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Untitled-2000-\u00d7-1500px-16x12.png 16w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t<\/figure>\n\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"vc_empty_space\"   style=\"height: 32px\"><span class=\"vc_empty_space_inner\"><\/span><\/div>\n\t<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<p>The adverse effects of cholesterol on your health are well-known \u2013 or at least, most people would agree that high levels of cholesterol aren&#8217;t good for your heart. However, the role of cholesterol as the bad guy in causing heart disease is more complicated than it first appears. In fact, recent studies claim that having high cholesterol might not be the sure-fire way of predicting heart attacks that conventional medical advice would have you believe.<\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_81 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-light-blue ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title ez-toc-toggle\" style=\"cursor:pointer\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/lifeclinic.com.hk\/why-high-ldl-levels-may-not-be-a-good-predictor-of-heart-disease\/#What_is_cholesterol\" >What is cholesterol?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/lifeclinic.com.hk\/why-high-ldl-levels-may-not-be-a-good-predictor-of-heart-disease\/#If_cholesterol_is_so_important_why_has_it_got_such_a_bad_name\" >If cholesterol is so important, why has it got such a bad name?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/lifeclinic.com.hk\/why-high-ldl-levels-may-not-be-a-good-predictor-of-heart-disease\/#Does_LDL_really_cause_heart_disease\" >Does LDL really cause heart disease?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_is_cholesterol\"><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><strong>What is cholesterol?<\/strong><\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/compound\/cholesterol\">Cholesterol<\/a> is a substance that exists naturally in tissues and blood all around your body. It consists of a combination of steroids, alcohol, and lipids (fats). Although it has an extremely poor reputation, cholesterol is actually vital for good health. You need cholesterol to stabilize cell membranes, synthesize Vitamin D, and create hormones like cortisol, oestrogen, and testosterone. Cholesterol also supports your immune system and brain function.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"If_cholesterol_is_so_important_why_has_it_got_such_a_bad_name\"><\/span><strong><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\">If cholesterol is so important, why has it got such a bad name?<\/span> <\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>It&#8217;s because there are different types of cholesterol. High-density lipoprotein (HDL) is the one that performs many essential functions, so it&#8217;s known as the &#8220;good&#8221; cholesterol. Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is the one that builds up and could cause atherosclerosis (hardened arteries). Many studies indicate that atherosclerosis is a primary cause of heart disease, so LDL is known as the &#8220;bad&#8221; cholesterol.<\/p>\n<p>Measuring the level of LDL in your blood is a standard approach to calculating your risk of developing heart disease. If you have high LDL, your doctor is likely to advise you to take medication to reduce your risk. Increasingly, health care professionals are encouraging people to take steps to improve their diet, do more exercise, reduce stress, and cut out activities like smoking and excessive alcohol consumption, to help clear your arteries and minimize the risk of heart disease.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Does_LDL_really_cause_heart_disease\"><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><strong>Does LDL really cause heart disease?<\/strong><\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>There\u2019s no simple answer to this question. There&#8217;s certainly plenty of published evidence that seems to confirm a link between LDL and heart disease. However, as our understanding of cholesterol and what it does in our bodies improves, this evidence becomes less concrete.<\/p>\n<p>For example, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC6874513\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">a study<\/a> examined statistics showing that around 75% of people who suffer a heart attack don&#8217;t have dangerously high LDL levels. LDL isn&#8217;t a single substance \u2013 there are three subclasses: A, B, and I. The study&#8217;s researchers found that the proportion of each class of LDL is more significant than having a high overall LDL, with subclass B being most closely associated with damage to the heart. So, if you have a high total LDL but a low level of subclass B LDL, your risk of heart disease is likely to be lower than you think.<\/p>\n<p>In 2015, <a href=\"https:\/\/bmjopen.bmj.com\/content\/6\/6\/e010401.full\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">the BMJ (British Medical Journal) published a paper<\/a> that showed 92% of older people who have high levels of LDL live as long or even longer than those who have low LDL. The study was a comprehensive review that looked at data from 19 previous studies and over 68,000 people in total. The authors not only concluded that high LDL levels don&#8217;t indicate an increased risk of heart disease in the over-60s, but that the value of conventional treatments such as the use of statins is in doubt.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tandfonline.com\/doi\/full\/10.1080\/17512433.2018.1519391\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">A large study published in Expert Review of Clinical Pharmacology<\/a> in 2018 goes even further, claiming LDL doesn&#8217;t cause heart disease at all. A collaboration between medical professionals and researchers around the world examined the evidence base on LDL and heart disease and called much of the research into question. They claim that previous LDL studies have serious flaws, with research papers excluding clinical trials that didn&#8217;t show a link between LDL and heart disease. They further argue that LDL could have significant beneficial qualities.<\/p>\n<p>The history of medicine is notorious for the reluctance of people to question accepted wisdom when new evidence takes an entirely contrary view, and such is the case with LDL. For 50 years, high levels of LDL have been blamed as a leading cause of heart disease, but more recent research is starting to question the facts behind this assertion. There needs to be more research done to confirm these new ideas about LDL, but there&#8217;s good reason to believe high LDL levels may not be a predictor of heart disease after all.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element \">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<p>For more information regarding lipid panels and heart disease, please contact Miles Price, Functional Medicine Specialist (IFM, FMU) at 2881 8131 or <a class=\"c-link\" href=\"mailto:miles@lifeclinic.com.hk\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-sk=\"tooltip_parent\" aria-describedby=\"sk-tooltip-5367\">miles@lifeclinic.com.hk<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"vc_empty_space\"   style=\"height: 32px\"><span class=\"vc_empty_space_inner\"><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-12\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><div class=\"vc_empty_space\"   style=\"height: 32px\"><span class=\"vc_empty_space_inner\"><\/span><\/div>\n\t<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<p><em>Written by Miles Price<\/em><\/p>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"vc_empty_space\"   style=\"height: 32px\"><span class=\"vc_empty_space_inner\"><\/span><\/div>\n\t<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<p>References:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>National Center for Biotechnology Information. PubChem Database. Cholesterol, CID=5997, https:\/\/pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/compound\/cholesterol<\/li>\n<li>Hua J, Malinski T. Variable Effects Of LDL Subclasses Of Cholesterol On Endothelial Nitric Oxide\/Peroxynitrite Balance &#8211; The Risks And Clinical Implications For Cardiovascular Disease.\u00a0<i>Int J Nanomedicine<\/i>. 2019;14:8973-8987. doi:10.2147\/IJN.S223524<\/li>\n<li><span class=\"highwire-citation-author first\" data-delta=\"0\"><span class=\"nlm-surname\">Ravnskov<\/span>\u00a0U<\/span>,\u00a0<span class=\"highwire-citation-author\" data-delta=\"1\"><span class=\"nlm-surname\">Diamond<\/span>\u00a0DM<\/span>,\u00a0<span class=\"highwire-citation-author\" data-delta=\"2\"><span class=\"nlm-surname\">Hama<\/span>\u00a0R<\/span><span class=\"citation-et\">, et al. <\/span>Lack of an association or an inverse association between low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol and mortality in the elderly: a systematic review. <em>BMJ Open<\/em> <span class=\"highwire-cite-metadata-year highwire-cite-metadata\">2016;<\/span><span class=\"highwire-cite-metadata-volume highwire-cite-metadata\">6:<\/span><span class=\"highwire-cite-metadata-elocation-id highwire-cite-metadata\">e010401. doi:10.1136\/bmjopen-2015-010401<\/span><\/li>\n<li>Ravnskov U, Lorgeril M, Diamond D, et al. <span class=\"art_title\">LDL-C does not cause cardiovascular disease: a comprehensive review of the current literature.<\/span>\u00a0<span class=\"serial_title\"><em>Expert Review of Clinical Pharmacology<\/em>,<\/span> 2018;<span class=\"volume_issue\">11:10,<\/span>\u00a0<span class=\"page_range\">959-970, <\/span><span class=\"doi_link\">doi: 10.1080\/17512433.2018.1519391<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-12\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The adverse effects of cholesterol on your health are well-known \u2013 or at least, most people would agree that high levels of cholesterol aren't good for your heart. However, the role of cholesterol as the bad guy in causing heart disease is more complicated than it first appears. In fact, recent studies claim that having [...]","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":6431,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[204,260,176],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6429","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-functional-medicine","category-heart-health","category-nutrition"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/lifeclinic.com.hk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/woman-holding-egg-and-heart.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lifeclinic.com.hk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6429","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lifeclinic.com.hk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lifeclinic.com.hk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lifeclinic.com.hk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lifeclinic.com.hk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6429"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/lifeclinic.com.hk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6429\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8881,"href":"https:\/\/lifeclinic.com.hk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6429\/revisions\/8881"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lifeclinic.com.hk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6431"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lifeclinic.com.hk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6429"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lifeclinic.com.hk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6429"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lifeclinic.com.hk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6429"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}