Health Through Cholesterol Reduction: Are there Unforeseen Risks?

Abstract

While abundant scientific evidence documents the risks of untreated hypercholesterolemia, long-term cholesterol-lowering could also be associated with adverse health effects. This article discusses potential connections between reduced serum cholesterol levels and three specific adverse outcomes: (a) cancer, (b) hemorrhagic stroke, and(c) death from non-illness related causes (suicide, accident, or violence). Included are data from epidemiologic studies of both serum cholesterol and dietary fat consumption, and evidence from randomized, clinical trials of cholesterol lowering with either dietary or pharmacologic treatment. While some evidence links reduced serum cholesterol with each of these three illnesses or events, the inconsistencies and limitations of the available evidence presently preclude conclusions regarding either the safety or dangers of cholesterol-lowering treatments.