Cholesterol Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Cholesterol, including details on high cholesterol, hdl, ldl, diet, risks.

Cholesterol--when is lower better?

Warren JB

Top Flat, Mayfair Library, London, UK. john.warren@mhra.gsi.gov.uk

When recommending how to treat a patient's lipid profile with drugs, there are two common misinterpretations of the data that are often quoted to support the current enthusiasm for the lower the cholesterol, the better.

Published 21 April 2008 in Clin Pharmacol Ther, 83(5): 777-80.
Full-text of this article is available online (may require subscription).

Articles on Cholesterol published 11 April 2008:

Lipid levels after acute coronary syndromes.   J Am Coll Cardiol, 51(15): 1440-5.

OBJECTIVES: This analysis from the LUNAR (Limiting UNdertreatment of lipids in ACS with Rosuvastatin) study assessed lipid changes 1 to 4 days after onset of acute coronary syndromes (ACS), before initiation of study treatment. BACKGROUND: Early studies indicated that cholesterol levels decrease significantly after ACS. However, most studies were small or did not measure low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) directly, and many used nonfasting or retrospective data. More recent studies ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Articles on Cholesterol published 9 April 2008:

Effect of lower targets for blood pressure and LDL cholesterol on atherosclerosis in diabetes: the SANDS randomized trial.   JAMA, 299(14): 1678-89.

CONTEXT: Individuals with diabetes are at increased risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD), but more aggressive targets for risk factor control have not been tested. OBJECTIVE: To compare progression of subclinical atherosclerosis in adults with type 2 diabetes treated to reach aggressive targets of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) of 70 mg/dL or lower and systolic blood pressure (SBP) of 115 mm Hg or lower vs standard targets of LDL-C of 100 mg/dL or lower and SBP of 130 mm Hg or ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Toremifene improves lipid profiles in men receiving androgen-deprivation therapy for prostate cancer: interim analysis of a multicenter phase III study.   J Clin Oncol, 26(11): 1824-9.

PURPOSE: Androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT) is associated with greater risk of incident coronary heart disease and hospital admission for myocardial infarction; treatment-related increases in serum lipids may contribute to greater cardiovascular disease risk. We evaluated the effects of toremifene, a selective estrogen-receptor modulator, on fasting serum lipid levels in men receiving ADT for prostate cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In an ongoing, multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Articles on Cholesterol published 8 April 2008:

Dramatically increased intestinal absorption of cholesterol following hypophysectomy is normalized by thyroid hormone.   Gastroenterology, 134(4): 1127-36.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Hypopituitarism is associated with dyslipidemia, and feeding hypophysectomized rats cholesterol induces severe hypercholesterolemia. This study aimed to unravel further how hypophysectomy alters cholesterol and bile acid metabolism. METHODS: Intact and hypophysectomized rats were studied during challenge with dietary cholesterol and ezetimibe and upon hormonal substitution with growth hormone, cortisone, and thyroid hormone. RESULTS: Five findings were established in ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Articles on Cholesterol published 3 April 2008:

Simvastatin with or without ezetimibe in familial hypercholesterolemia.   N Engl J Med, 358(14): 1431-43.

BACKGROUND: Ezetimibe, a cholesterol-absorption inhibitor, reduces levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol when added to statin treatment. However, the effect of ezetimibe on the progression of atherosclerosis remains unknown. METHODS: We conducted a double-blind, randomized, 24-month trial comparing the effects of daily therapy with 80 mg of simvastatin either with placebo or with 10 mg of ezetimibe in 720 patients with familial hypercholesterolemia. Patients underwent B-mode ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Articles on Cholesterol published 2 April 2008:

Activation of liver X receptor sensitizes mice to gallbladder cholesterol crystallization.   Hepatology, 47(4): 1331-42.

Gallstone disease is a hepatobiliary disorder due to biochemical imbalances in the gallbladder bile. In this report, we show that activation of nuclear receptor liver X receptor (LXR) sensitized mice to lithogenic diet-induced gallbladder cholesterol crystallization, which was associated with dysregulation of several hepatic transporters that efflux cholesterol, phospholipids, and bile salts. The combined effect of increased biliary concentrations of cholesterol and phospholipids and decreased ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

High-density lipoprotein cholesterol and objective measures of lower extremity performance in older nondisabled persons: the InChianti study.   J Am Geriatr Soc, 56(4): 621-9.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the independent association between high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels and objective measures of lower extremity performance. DESIGN: Cross-sectional cohort study. SETTING: Community-based. PARTICIPANTS: Eight hundred thirty-six nondisabled women and men aged 65 and older enrolled in the Invecchiare in Chianti study. MEASUREMENTS: Lower extremity performance was assessed using 4-m walking speed at fast pace, 400-m walking speed, and knee extension ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Articles on Cholesterol published 31 March 2008:

A novel method for production of lipid hydroperoxide- or oxysterol-rich low-density lipoprotein.   Atherosclerosis, 197(2): 579-87.

LDL oxidation may be important in atherosclerosis. Extensive oxidation of LDL by copper induces increased uptake by macrophages, but results in decomposition of hydroperoxides, making it more difficult to investigate the effects of hydroperoxides in oxidised LDL on cell function. We describe here a simple method of oxidising LDL by dialysis against copper ions at 4 degrees C, which inhibits the decomposition of hydroperoxides, and allows the production of LDL rich in hydroperoxides (626+/-98 ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

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