1) There is no proof that cholesterol causes cardiovascular disease (CVD). CVD includes heart attacks, strokes and blood clots.

2) There is an association in men, age 35 - 55, between high cholesterol and heart attacks if, and only if, their cholesterol is greater than 240. An association however does not mean cholesterol causes the heart attack.

3) There is no association in women, at any age, between high cholesterol and heart attacks.

4) In a Time Magazine (6/3/02) full-page advertisement, the manufacturer of Lipitor, one of the most commonly prescibed cholesterol lowering drugs, issues a disclaimer: "LIPITOR has not been shown to prevent heart disease or heart attacks."

5) Heart attacks occur in people with normal and low cholesterol.

6) Plaque happens. Plaque is a fact of life. Plaque is deposits of fats, proteins and minerals in arteries. It is found in mummies and in very young children.

7) If you have too much plaque it means there has been damage to the very delicate lining of very small arteries. Plaque, including cholesterol, repairs the damage. The plaque is scar tissue. The more damage the more scar tissue. The more damage and scar tissue over time the greater the risk of developing a blockage in these very small arteries. Blockages in the arteries that supply oxygen to the heart muscle cause heart attacks. Blockages in the arteries that supply oxygen to the brain cells cause strokes. Blockages in arteries mean the oxygen to heart muscle or brain cells is decreased or shut off. The heart muscle or brain tissue is damaged, either temporarily or permanently.

8) Small arteries are damaged by free radicals. They are also damaged by damaged cholesterol. Cholesterol is damaged by free radicals.

9) Some free radicals are normal. They are necessary for cells to "breathe", i.e., use oxygen. These normal and necessary reactions take palce inside the cells in VERY secure compartments. However, excess free radicals do damage - to arteries, to cholesterol and to many other tissues in the body. Excess free radicals are generated by: 1) toxic heavy metals, most commonly mercury, lead and arsenic; 2) chemicals; 3) radiation; 4) high levels of homocysteine and lipoprotein (a), both genetically determined; and 5) trans fatty acids, aka hydrogenated oils and margarine.

10) Trans fatty acids were introduced as a "food" in the early 1930's. Hydrogen is added to these oils in the laboratory. This process changes the shape of the fatty acid. A hydrogenated fatty acid cannot be used in the body and must be eliminated. Trans or hydrogenated fatty acids never decompose. Their long shelf life is an advantage to the food industry. However, they are not a food if they do not decompose. When you make a graph of the increase in margarine consumption between the early 1930's and 1970's, it is the same graph as the rise in the number of heart attacks in the same time period. Moreover, trans or hydrogenated fatty acids damage cholesterol. Damaged cholesterol damages arteries.

11) Excess animal (saturated) fats and excess sweets and carbohydrates increase cholesterol. Too litte animal fat decreases cholesterol too much. Eggs do not raise cholesterol. Eggs do not damage cholesterol and arteries and do not generate free radicals or plaque.

12) Several articles have appeared in major medical journals in the last 10+ years documenting an association between low cholesterol and increased mortality from all causes. Not one article explained the mechanism whereby low cholesterol increases mortality from all diseases. Low cholesterol increases mortality from all causes because cholesterol regulates free radical production. If your tissue cholesterol is too low you will have excess free radicals. Free radicals damage small arteries that supply oxygen to the heart muscle AND damage every other tissue, gland and organ in the body. Your terminal illness depends on which tissue, gland, organ or system gets hit hardest. See "Rethinking Cholesterol" in the Articles section at www.HealthEquations.com.

CONCLUSION: Consider either a high or low cholesterol, and either a high or low LDL/HDL cholesterol ratio, as a warning light on your dash. A warning light on your dash tells you something is wrong, somewhere. The warning light does not tell you what is wrong, nor does it tell you what will happen and when. You can always pull the fuse (i.e., take cholesterol lowering drugs) and the light will go out. Alternatively you can find out what is wrong and fix it before anything bad happens. This is the job of warning lights after all.

by Lynne August

© Health Equations 2002

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