Facts About Cholesterol

• 75% of people who suffer from a heart attack have normal levels.
• Low serum cholesterol has been correlated with higher mortality.
• High levels correlate with longevity.
• Cholesterol has never been clinically demonstrated to cause a single heart attack.
• In women, serum levels have an inverse relationship with mortality from all causes.
• For every 1 mg/dl drop in cholesterol per year, there was a 14% increase in the rise of overall mortality.
• Many countries with higher average cholesterol have lower rates of heart disease.
• Low levels are a risk factor for several types of cancer (Note: consider the implications of statin drugs to lower cholesterol on cancer risk in light of this research).
• 1/4 of the body’s cholesterol is in the brain and studies have demonstrated higher rates of dementia in people with low cholesterol. Research also found a correlation between higher LDL and better memory in elderly patients.