| For medical practitioners and the general public - Cholesterol Journal Article Catalog. |
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| Low cholesterol and violent crime Golomb, B. A., H. Stattin, et al. (2000), J Psychiatr Res 34(4-5): 301-9. Abstract: BACKGROUND: Community cohort studies and meta-analyses of randomized trials have shown a relation between low or lowered cholesterol and death by violence (homicide, suicide, accident); in primates, cholesterol reduction has been linked to increased behavioral acts of aggression (Kaplan J, Manuck S. The effects of fat and cholesterol on aggressive behaviour in monkeys. Psychosom. Med 1990;52:226-7; Kaplan J, Shively C, Fontenot D, Morgan T, Howell S, Manuck S et al. Demonstration of an association among dietary cholesterol, central serotonergic activity, and social behaviour in monkeys. Psychosom. Med 1994;56:479-84.). In this study we test for the first time whether cholesterol level is related to commission of violent crimes against others in a large community cohort. METHODS: We merged one-time cholesterol measurements on 79,777 subjects enrolled in a health screening project in Varmland, Sweden with subsequent police records for arrests for violent crimes in men and women aged 24-70 at enrollment; and with information on covariates. We performed a nested case control comparison of cholesterol in violent criminals - defined as those with two or more crimes of violence against others - to cholesterol in nonoffenders matched on age, enrollment year, sex, education and alcohol, using variable-ratio matching, with a nonparametric sign test. RESULTS: One hundred individuals met criteria for criminal violence. Low cholesterol (below the median) was strongly associated with criminal violence in unadjusted analysis (Men: risk ratio 1.94, P=0.002; all subjects risk ratio 2.32, P<0.001). Age emerged as a strong confounder. Adjusting for covariates using a matching procedure, violent criminals had significantly lower cholesterol than others identical in age, sex, alcohol indices and education, using a nonparametric sign test (P=0.012 all subjects; P=0.035 men). CONCLUSIONS: Adjusting for other factors, low cholesterol is associated with increased subsequent criminal violence. |
| Low cholesterol as a risk factor for primary intracerebral hemorrhage: A case-control study Segal, A. Z., R. I. Chiu, et al. (1999), Neuroepidemiology 18(4): 185-93. Abstract: We performed a case-control study to assess the relationship between primary intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) and low serum cholesterol. Prospectively recruited, fully evaluated patients with ICH were compared to two independent control groups, one based in a primary care practice and one population-based. Low cholesterol was defined by the sex-specific lowest quintile of the primary care controls. The proportion of ICH cases with low cholesterol >3 months posthemorrhage was significantly greater than in controls (42 vs. 20% in either control group, p < 0.01). Subgroup analysis showed an overrepresentation of low cholesterols in probable hypertensive hemorrhage (47%, p < 0.05) but not in probable cerebral amyloid angiopathy (27%, p = 0.5). Low cholesterol increased the odds for hemorrhage 2.25-fold (1.12-4.50) after adjustment for age and apolipoprotein E genotype. These data confirm an increased risk for primary ICH associated with low cholesterol, a relationship that may apply specifically to hemorrhages from hypertensive vasculopathy. |
| Low cholesterol concentrations and severe depressive symptoms in elderly people Brown, S. L., M. E. Salive, et al. (1994), Bmj 308(6940): 1328-32. Abstract: OBJECTIVE--To investigate the reported association between low serum cholesterol concentration and severe depressive symptoms in an elderly population. DESIGN--Cross sectional analysis of pooled data from three communities of the established populations for epidemiologic studies of the elderly. Participants who completed their interview, including the Centers for Epidemiologic Studies' depression scale and consented to measurement of their cholesterol concentration were included in the study. SUBJECTS--3939 men and women aged > or = 71. METHODS--chi 2 analysis, t tests, and multivariate regression analysis of the association between low cholesterol concentration and severe depressive symptoms. All analyses were stratified by sex, and multivariate analyses were adjusted for age, self reported health, physical function, number of drugs used, and weight loss. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE--Score of depressive symptoms on the Centers for Epidemiologic Studies' depression scale. RESULTS--Depressive symptoms, cholesterol concentration, weight, and use of drugs were all associated with age in men and women. The relative odds of severe depressive symptoms (score > or = 16) for those with low cholesterol concentrations (< 4.14 mmol/l) were 1.9 (95% confidence interval, 1.1 to 3.3) for the older group of men and 1.8 (1.1 to 2.9) for the older group of women. This association was also observed when depressive symptoms were analysed as a continuous rather than a categorical variable. In multivariate models that adjusted for age, self reported health, physical function, number of drugs used, and weight loss, the association was substantially weakened. CONCLUSIONS--After several factors relating to health had been controlled for, no significant association between low cholesterol concentration and severe depressive symptoms was found. |
| Low cholesterol concentrations in free-living elderly subjects: relations with dietary intake and nutritional status Goichot, B., J. L. Schlienger, et al. (1995), Am J Clin Nutr 62(3): 547-53. Abstract: Hypocholesterolemia has been reported in epidemiologic studies to be associated with increased mortality from noncardiovascular causes. Low cholesterol concentrations have been reported in various pathologic conditions and in institutionalized elderly patients, and seem to be associated with poor outcome. The role of nutritional factors in the genesis of hypocholesterolemia was investigated in 380 free-living elderly subjects. Subjects in the lowest cholesterol quartile had lower free triidothyronine and prealbumin concentrations and a lower Folstein's score (a minimental test) than did those in the other quartiles. They did not differ from the other subjects for energy or nutrient intakes. Only 12 subjects (9 men and 3 women) had cholesterol concentrations < 3.62 mmol/L: the men had low free triidothyronine, free thyroxine, and prealbumin concentrations but normal energy and nutrient intakes, whereas the women differed from those with normal cholesterol concentrations for biological and nutritional data. These results indicate that low cholesterol concentration is a nonspecific feature of poor health status that is independent of nutrient or energy intake. The role of nutrient factors as a determinant of cholesterol concentration appears marginal in free-living elderly subjects. |
| Low cholesterol egg powder. Nutritive and quality characteristics of the product Sotelo, A. and L. Gonzalez (2000), Arch Latinoam Nutr 50(2): 134-41. Abstract: The purpose of this study is to obtain a low cholesterol egg powder for the preparation of different foods for persons whose egg consumption is restricted. Egg white and yolk mixtures prepared in different proportions were dehydrated; the following dried mixtures were obtained: A (1:1), B (2:1) and C (3:1) of egg white:yolk respectively. These mixtures were evaluated using the following parameters: proximal analysis, microbiological assay and protein quality evaluation. Physical characteristics of the powder and the sensorial tests of foods prepared with these mixtures were carried out. The fat and the cholesterol content in the mixture C were decreased by 40% and 20% respectively. The microbiological tests showed that the three mixtures were safe for human consumption. The PER of sample A (whole egg) was 3.65 and for the mixture C 3:1 egg white:yolk was 3.05. The PER of the 50:50 protein mixtures eggs white and yolk: with corn lime treated flour (HMN) were higher than that of the casein standard. The sensorial tests of the foods prepared with all the mixtures were acceptable. |
| Low cholesterol eggs? Greubel, S. (1998), Med Monatsschr Pharm 21(7): 212-3. |
| Low cholesterol in erythrocyte membranes and high lipoperoxides in erythrocytes are the potential risk factors for cerebral hemorrhagic stroke in human Chen, H. H. and J. F. Zhou (2001), Biomed Environ Sci 14(3): 189-98. Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To explore the association of risk for human cerebral hemorrhage with blood cholesterol, free radicals, oxidation and lipoperoxidation. METHODS: 351 cerebral hemorrhage patients (CHP) in the acute phase and 100 healthy adult volunteers (HAV) were investigated by testing the contents of cholesterol (CH), lipoperoxides (LPO), nitric oxide (NO), vitamin C (VC) and vitamin E (VE) and activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) in plasma and erythrocytes (RBC), and by assessing the contents of CH and LPO in RBC with spectrophotometric assays. RESULTS: Compared with the average values (AV) of the above biochemical parameters (BP) in the HAV group, the AV of CH in plasma and RBC, VC and VE in plasma as well as SOD in plasma and RBC in the CHP group were significantly decreased (P = 0.0000), while the AV of the LPO in plasma and RBC as well as NO in plasma in the CHP group were significantly increased (P = 0.0000). The findings of linear correlation analysis for the CHP group showed that the above biochemical parameters were significantly correlated with both intracranial hemorrhagic sizes (IHS) and neurotic functional defective scales (NDS). The findings of stepwise correlation analysis for the CHA group suggested that HIS was closely correlated with the values of CH and LPO in RBC as well as NO and VE in plasma, and that NDS was closely correlated with the values of CH and LPO in RBC as well as NO and VC in plasma. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of the present study suggest that marked low RBC cholesterol and marked high RBC lipoperoxides may constitute the potential main risk factors for human cerebral hemorrhage, and that the oxidative and lipoperoxidative stress in the CHP bodies is pathologically aggravated, leading to the oxidative and lipoperoxidative damages in the CHP. |
| Low cholesterol in severe hypothyroidism? Wagner, A. M., M. Rigla, et al. (1999), Endocr J 46(2): 347-8. |
| Low cholesterol level in patients with panic disorder: the association with major depression Agargun, M. Y., E. Algun, et al. (1998), J Affect Disord 50(1): 29-32. Abstract: BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to examine whether an association exists between low cholesterol level and major depression in patients with panic disorder. METHODS: The subjects of the study were 16 patients panic disorder only, 16 panic disorder patients had also current major depressive episode, and 16 normal control subjects. An automated enzymatic colorimetric method was used for cholesterol determination. RESULTS: Panic disorder patients had higher serum cholesterol than panic disorder patients with major depression and normal controls. CONCLUSION: There is an association between low cholesterol level and the presence of major depression in patients with panic disorder. LIMITATION: Future studies with large sample are needed to confirm this finding. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: A low serum cholesterol level might serve as biological marker of major depression in patients panic disorder. |
| Low cholesterol levels are associated with short-term mortality in older patients with ischemic stroke Zuliani, G., A. Cherubini, et al. (2004), J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 59(3): 293-7. Abstract: BACKGROUND: The possible relationship between serum total cholesterol (TC) levels and outcome following ischemic stroke is still controversial. We evaluated the association between TC levels and 30-day mortality in a sample of older patients with acute ischemic stroke. METHODS: We enrolled 490 older patients with severe ischemic stroke consecutively admitted to University Hospital's Internal Medicine or Geriatrics Department. Stroke type was classified according to the Oxfordshire Community Stroke Project. The data recorded included clinical features, medical history, electrocardiogram, and blood analyses. Patients were divided into three groups by TC levels: group I (TC<4.1 mmol/L), group II (TC 4.1-5.2 mmol/L), and group III (TC>5.2 mmol/L). RESULTS: The overall mortality was 27.7%. Mortality was higher in patients with low TC levels (47.4%) compared with those with normal and high TC levels (23.0% and 24.1%, respectively). The odds ratio (OR) for short-term death was 2.17 (95% confidence interval CI 1.22-3.85) in group I compared with group III, after adjustment for age and gender. This result did not change after adjustment for possible confounders (OR 2.87; 95% CI 1.23-6.68). A similar trend was observed after adjustment for the Oxfordshire classification, age, and gender (OR 1.67; 95% CI 0.83-3.33). CONCLUSIONS: Short-term mortality following ischemic stroke is higher in older participants with low TC levels, independent of a large number of factors. Low TC levels might be useful in identifying frail older participants at high risk of stroke short-term mortality. |
| Low cholesterol stimulates the nonamyloidogenic pathway by its effect on the alpha -secretase ADAM 10 Kojro, E., G. Gimpl, et al. (2001), Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 98(10): 5815-20. Abstract: Biochemical, epidemiological, and genetic findings demonstrate a link between cholesterol levels, processing of the amyloid precursor protein (APP), and Alzheimer's disease. In the present report, we identify the alpha-secretase ADAM 10 (a disintegrin and metalloprotease) as a major target of the cholesterol effects on APP metabolism. Treatment of various peripheral and neural cell lines with either the cholesterol-extracting agent methyl-beta-cyclodextrin or the hydroxymethyl glutaryl-CoA reductase inhibitor lovastatin resulted in a drastic increase of secreted alpha-secretase cleaved soluble APP. This strong stimulatory effect was in the range obtained with phorbol esters and was further increased in cells overexpressing ADAM 10. In cells overexpressing APP, the increase of alpha-secretase activity resulted in a decreased secretion of Abeta peptides. Several mechanisms were elucidated as being the basis of enhanced alpha-secretase activity: increased membrane fluidity and impaired internalization of APP were responsible for the effect observed with methyl-beta-cyclodextrin; treatment with lovastatin resulted in higher expression of the alpha-secretase ADAM 10. Our results demonstrate that cholesterol reduction promotes the nonamyloidogenic alpha-secretase pathway and the formation of neuroprotective alpha-secretase cleaved soluble APP by several mechanisms and suggest approaches to prevention of or therapy for Alzheimer's disease. |
| Low cholesterol values are no longer common in China Cheng, T. O. (2004), Eur Heart J 25(2): 184. |
| Low cholesterol, depression and unexplained deaths--the link and the mystery Ben-Ari, T., Y. Bar-Dayan, et al. (1999), Harefuah 136(1): 82-5. |
| Low cholesterol, mortality, and quality of life in old age during a 39-year follow-up Strandberg, T. E., A. Strandberg, et al. (2004), J Am Coll Cardiol 44(5): 1002-8. Abstract: OBJECTIVES: We assessed the impact of serum cholesterol level in early midlife on total mortality during up to 39 years of follow-up and on the quality of life (QoL) in old age. BACKGROUND: Total effects of low serum cholesterol on health have been in dispute, especially in elderly persons, and there are few data on the long-term effects of low cholesterol on QoL. METHODS: The cohort consisted of 3,277 healthy businessmen age 30 to 45 years at baseline (1960s). In addition to baseline, serum cholesterol values were available for part of the cohort in 1974, 1986, and 2000. The QoL was assessed in 80.9% of survivors (n = 1,820, mean age 73 years) with a RAND-36 (SF-36) QoL questionnaire in 2000. Mortality up to 2002 (n = 1,173) was retrieved from national registers. RESULTS: Cholesterol was clearly reduced in survivors during follow-up, except in the lowest baseline serum cholesterol group. Baseline cholesterol predicted 39-year total mortality in a graded manner (p < 0.0001), and a value < or =5.0 mmol/l was associated with a 25% reduction in total mortality. In old age, the physical component summary score of RAND-36 was significantly (p = 0.02) higher (better) in the lowest baseline cholesterol group; no difference was found in the mental component summary score (p = 0.51). CONCLUSIONS: Low serum cholesterol level in midlife predicted not only better survival but also better physical function and QoL in old age, without adversely affecting mental QoL. |
| Low concentration level of total serum cholesterol as a risk factor for suicidal and aggressive behavior Ainiyet, J. and J. Rybakowski (1996), Psychiatr Pol 30(3): 499-509. Abstract: The data have been presented for possible association between low total serum cholesterol concentration and the increased risk of suicidal and aggressive behavior. The analysis of results from some long-term epidemiological studies shows an excess of suicides and violent death cases among persons with low baseline total serum cholesterol level and in those in whom this level was lowered by means of pharmacotherapy or dieting. In patients hospitalized on psychiatric wards, having low total serum cholesterol concentration, a higher intensity of suicidal thoughts and tendencies was found. Such relationship was most evident in patients with depression. In some populations, an association between low total cholesterol level and the tendency to aggressive behavior was also found. Higher intensity of aggression was also observed in animals receiving low-cholesterol diet. A hypothesis was discussed, postulating the connection between low cholesterol level and lower activity of central serotonergic structures responsible for the inhibition of impulsive behavior. |
| Low concentration of serum total cholesterol is associated with multifocal signal loss lesions on gradient-echo magnetic resonance imaging: analysis of risk factors for multifocal signal loss lesions Lee, S. H., H. J. Bae, et al. (2002), Stroke 33(12): 2845-9. Abstract: BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Multifocal signal loss lesions (MSLLs) on T2*-weighted gradient-echo (GE) MRI are believed to be microbleeds histopathologically. Previous epidemiological studies suggested that low serum cholesterol is associated with the increased risk of intracerebral hemorrhage. We investigated risk factors of MSLLs and the relationship between lipid profiles and MSLLs on GE-MRI. METHODS: We included consecutively 172 patients who underwent brain MRI. MSLLs on GE-MRI were counted by 2 neurologists separately and graded by consensus. The concentrations of lipid profiles were categorized as quartiles, and the MSLLs were graded as absent (total count, 0), mild (1 to 2), moderate (3 to 10), and severe (>10). RESULTS: The mean concentrations of total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol were significantly lower in patients with a severe degree of MSLLs than in those without MSLL (P<0.05). By multivariate analysis, MSLLs were significantly correlated with hypertension (odds ratio OR, 3.42; 95% CI, 1.17 to 9.97), leukoaraiosis (OR, 4.62; 95% CI, 2.87 to 7.41), the lowest quartile of serum total cholesterol (<4.27 mmol/L; OR, 10.91; 95% CI, 3.98 to 25.57), and the highest quartile of high-density lipoprotein (>1.47 mmol/L; OR, 3.5; 95% CI, 1.45 to 8.29). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that both the lipid profile levels and the severity of hypertension may be closely associated with MSLLs on GE-MRI. |
| Low density lipoprotein (LDL) apheresis is currently recognized as a reliable tool for removal of LDL cholesterol directly from blood in patients with severe hypercholesterolemia Agishi, T. (2000), Artif Organs 24(2): 165-6. |
| Low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol is converted to 27-hydroxycholesterol in human fibroblasts. Evidence that 27-hydroxycholesterol can be an important intracellular mediator between LDL and the suppression of cholesterol production Axelson, M. and O. Larsson (1995), J Biol Chem 270(25): 15102-10. Abstract: The formation of oxysterols in cultured human fibroblasts and their physiological roles as intracellular regulators of cholesterol production have been investigated. In the presence of low density lipoproteins (LDL) normal fibroblasts converted LDL cholesterol to the oxysterol 27-hydroxycholesterol in quantities apparently sufficient to down-regulate 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase. The production of 27-hydroxycholesterol started 3-8 h after the addition of LDL to the incubation medium, and during this time the activity of HMG-CoA reductase decreased by 73%. Formation of other biologically active oxysterols such as 7 alpha-hydroxycholesterol, 24-hydroxycholesterol, and 25-hydroxycholesterol was not observed. When 27-hydroxylation of LDL cholesterol in mitochondria was selectively prevented by treating normal fibroblasts with cyclosporin A or by using fibroblasts genetically lacking sterol 27-hydroxylase, the suppressive effect of LDL on HMG-CoA reductase was reduced by a factor of about 10. In the absence of LDL or when the fibroblasts lacked LDL-receptors, the cells did not produce detectable amounts of 27-hydroxycholesterol, and HMG-CoA reductase was up-regulated. The results provide strong evidence that 27-hydroxycholesterol is an important intracellular mediator between LDL and the suppression of HMG-CoA reductase in human fibroblasts. The mitochondrial uptake/metabolism of LDL cholesterol seems to be a biologically important extension of the LDL pathway in human cells, since the mitochondrial products of LDL cholesterol may regulate cholesterol homeostasis or be precursors of steroid hormones or bile acids. This pathway, which has now been demonstrated in fibroblasts, may link together the two 22-year-old observations that LDL as well as oxysterols can down-regulate HMG-CoA reductase in cells. |
| Low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDC-C) and the need for pharmacologic intervention (National Cholesterol Education Program NCEP) Drown, D. J. (1994), Prog Cardiovasc Nurs 9(2): 38-40. |
| Low density lipoprotein cholesterol and coronary microvascular dysfunction in hypercholesterolemia Kaufmann, P. A., T. Gnecchi-Ruscone, et al. (2000), J Am Coll Cardiol 36(1): 103-9. Abstract: OBJECTIVES: The present study evaluates the impact of total cholesterol (TC) and its subfractions on coronary flow reserve (CFR), an index of the integrated function of the coronary circulation, in asymptomatic subjects. BACKGROUND: Endothelial dysfunction of the coronary microcirculation has been reported in asymptomatic subjects with hypercholesterolemia. METHODS: Using oxygen-15-labeled water and positron emission tomography, myocardial blood flow (MBF, in ml/min per g) was measured at rest and during intravenous adenosine (140 microg/kg body weight per min) in 80 asymptomatic nonsmoking men: group 1 (n = 61; age 45 +/- 7 years) had normal TC (< or =6.5 mmol/liter or < or =250 mg/dl) and group 2 (n = 19; age 48 +/- 10 years) had elevated TC. RESULTS: Total cholesterol were 5.1 +/- 0.8 and 7.2 +/- 0.7 mmol/liter in groups 1 and 2 (p < 0.0005), respectively; low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels were 3.2 +/- 0.8 and 4.9 +/- 0.7 mmol/liter (p < 0.0005); high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels were 1.1 +/- 0.3 and 1.0 +/- 0.4 mmol/liter (p = NS); and triglyceride levels were 1.8 +/- 1.3 and 3.0 +/- 1.8 mmol/liter (p < 0.005). Groups 1 and 2 did not differ with regard to MBF at rest (0.87 +/- 0.14 vs. 0.84 +/- 0.14), MBF during adenosine (3.63 +/- 1.02 vs. 3.30 +/- 0.86) or CFR (4.23 +/-1.29 vs. 3.95 +/- 0.93). A significant but weak correlation was found between CFR and HDL in group 1 (r = 0.29, p < 0.05), but not in group 2. In contrast, a significant inverse correlation between LDL and CFR was found in group 2 (r = -0.61, p < 0.05), but not in group 1. CONCLUSIONS: Low density lipoprotein cholesterol but not TC correlated inversely with CFR in hypercholesterolemic subjects. Thus, LDL-induced coronary microvascular dysfunction could play an important role in the pathogenesis of coronary artery disease and its complications. |