Cholesterol is good for you
October 11, 2011
INCREASING levels of high-density
lipoproteins reduces the risk of
heart attack and stroke in diabetic
patients, according to a new study
published in The American Journal
of Cardiology.
The study looked at the medical
records of more than 30,000
patients with diabetes, and found
that when their lipoprotein, better
known as HDL or “good”
cholesterol, levels dropped the
rate of heart attack and stroke
rose.
Patients involved in the study had
had at least two HDL
measurements between six and 24
months apart, and were followed
for eight years.
HDL levels in 61% of patients
were found to have no significant
change between tests, whilst 22%
had a HDL increase of at least
6.5mg/dl and 17% clocked a drop in
HDL levels of at least 6.5mg/dl.
Results of the surveyance found
that patients whose HDL levels
increased had 8% fewer heart
attacks and strokes than patients
whose HDL levels remained the
same, while patients whose HDL
levels decreased had 11% more
heart attacks and strokes.
“Our study adds to the growing
body of evidence that raising HDL
levels may be an important
strategy for reducing heart attack
risk,” said study lead author
Gregory Nichols, PhD, senior
investigator with the Kaiser
Permanente Center for Health
Research in Portland.
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