For years we have been told that HDL cholesterol, or high-density lipoprotein, was beneficial, so much so that they called it good cholesterol, and now they tell us that it is bad. Yes, it turns out, high levels of HDL can be very damaging to the heart, rather than it. And there is a risk of heart attack and even death. In short, there is never to be rest assured. The study that overturns the concept of good cholesterol
If we have to consider what was exposed by the researchers of the Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta (United States) at the ESC 2018 Congress, there is little to be happy about. “Bad” cholesterol (LDL) had long been branded as very harmful, but we still had the hope of clinging to the presence of “good” cholesterol (HDL) and, instead, it turns out that this is a kind of two-faced Janus . An Iscariot Judah who, until today, has deluded us that he is on our side. Gia, according to what was observed by Dr. Marc Allard-Ratick and colleagues, high levels of HDL can hurt the heart and cause heart attack and death. “It may be time to change the way we see HDL cholesterol,” explained Dr. Allard-Ratick – Traditionally, doctors have told their patients that the higher the good cholesterol, the better.High good
cholesterol HDL cholesterol was labeled as ‘good’ because the molecule was thought to be involved in transporting cholesterol from the walls of the blood and blood vessels to the liver and ultimately cleared from the body, thereby reducing the risk of blood clots. arteries and atherosclerosis. People with low HDL cholesterol are believed to have a higher risk of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease. Despite these beliefs, the protective effect of HDL cholesterol has never actually been clear. HDL versus LDL
Dr Allard-Ratick and colleagues conducted this study as part of the Emory Cardiovascular Biobank, which investigated the relationship between HDL cholesterol levels and the risk of heart attack and death. To do this, they involved 5,965 adults, most of whom presented with heart disease. The average age of the participants was 63 and 35% of these were female. Participants were divided into five groups based on their HDL cholesterol level: less than 30 mg / dL (0.78 mmol / L); 31-40 mg / dl (0.8-1 mmol / L); 41-50 mg / dL (1.1-1.3 mmol / L); 51-60 mg / dL (1.3-1.5 mmol / L) and above 60 mg / dL (1.5 mmol / L). The results of the good cholesterol study
From the analysis of the acquired data it was observed that during a median follow-up of four years, 769 participants (13%) had a heart attack or died from cardiovascular causes. Subjects with HDL cholesterol 41-60 mg / dL (1.1-1.5 mmol / L) had the lowest risk of heart attack or cardiovascular death. The risk is increased in both participants with low levels (less than 41 mg / dl) and very high levels (above 60 mg / dl) of HDL cholesterol. Risk graphically highlighted with a U-shaped curve plotting. Conversely, participants with HDL cholesterol levels above 60 mg / dL (1.5 mmol / L) saw an approximately 50% increased risk of dying from cardiovascular or cardiovascular causes. having a heart attack than those with HDL cholesterol levels 41-60 mg / dL (1.1 -1.5 mmol / L).High Good Cholesterol Values
​​The results of this new study support what many previous research suggests, the authors note. For example, a recent publication found increased cardiovascular and all-cause mortality when HDL cholesterol reached extremely high levels. “Our findings are important,” Allard-Ratick pointed out, “because they contribute to a constantly growing body of evidence that very high HDL cholesterol levels may not be protective because, unlike many other data available at this time, this study is been conducted mainly in patients with established heart disease ‘. Good cholesterol, more research is needed
The researchers also pointed out that further research is needed to elucidate the mechanisms of this paradoxical association. “While the answer remains unknown, a possible explanation is that extremely high HDL cholesterol can represent a dysfunctional condition that may favor rather than protect against cardiovascular disease – concluded the scientist – One thing is certain: the mantra of HDL cholesterol as the” good “cholesterol can no longer be current”.
