This article was pretty interesting. Data from China indicate that high LDL cholesterol levels are associated with lower COVID mortality. LDL cholesterol plays an important role in immune response. Modern societies demonization of LDL could be hurting immunity.
This is just an n of one, but I have been eating a carnivore diet for the last year and a half. My total cholesterol is consistently 275+/-. I've been maskless since Florida loosened up in June of 2020. I've not caught COVID despite many people right around me catching it.
I'd like to highlight that what you have referenced is a March 2020 letter to the BMJ editor; it's not a peer reviewed article. The letter commences, "According to Hu et al. serum cholesterol is significantly lower among Chinese patients with Covid-19 (1). The reason may be that low cholesterol predisposes to infectious diseases, because LDL partake in the immune system by adhering to and inactivating almost all types of microorganisms and their toxic products."
That's a hypothesis, not a conclusion from a trial. The paper by Hu et al, was published in the very early days of the pandemic (February 2020) and provides the "Interpretation: Low serum cholesterol level in the patients with COVID-19 in Wenzhou, China. Altered serum cholesterol provide important information, and is meaningful to understand the disease."
Per verywellhealth.com/choleste... you have a high overall cholesterol level, but you haven't shared your respective LDH and HDH levels.
I would recommend much more study before thinking that your diet and cholesterol are ideal for your health, keeping in mind that the risk of death from COVID-19 is just one (currently elevated) risk, given the pandemic isn't really over.
There's lot more to explore on this topic, for which I'd recommend PubMed searches, such as
From Lipid and Lipoprotein Levels in Patients with COVID-19 Infections from March 2022 (with my emphasis)
"Patients with low HDL-C and/or LDL-C levels at admission to the hospital were at an increased risk of developing severe disease compared to patients with high levels. With recovery from COVID-19 infections the serum lipid levels return towards levels present prior to infection. In patients that failed to survive, total cholesterol, LDL-C, and HDL-C levels were lower at admission to the hospital and continued to decline during the hospitalization. In patients with COVID-19 infections the serum triglyceride levels were variable. Lipoprotein (a) levels increase during COVID-19 infections."
So there is some question of whether the low cholesterol levels at admission were due at least in part to the COVID-19 infection.
Or from the abstract COVID-19 and Lipid Disorders from July 2022 (again with my emphasis)
An elevated cholesterol concentration has been suspected to increase the susceptibility for SARS-COV-2 infection. Cholesterol plays a central role in the mechanisms of the SARS-COV-2 infection. In contrast, higher HDL-cholesterol levels seem to be protective. During COVID-19 disease, LDL-cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol appear to be decreased. On the other hand, triglycerides (also in different lipoprotein fractions) were elevated. Lipoprotein(a) may increase during this disease and is most probably responsible for thromboembolic events. This lipoprotein can induce a progression of atherosclerotic lesion formation. The same is suspected for the SARS-COV-2 infection itself. COVID-19 patients are at increased risk of incident cardiovascular diseases, including cerebrovascular disorders, dysrhythmias, ischemic and non-ischemic heart disease, pericarditis, myocarditis, heart failure, and thromboembolic disorders. An ongoing lipid-lowering therapy, including lipoprotein apheresis, is recommended to be continued during the COVID-19 disease, though the impact of lipid-lowering drugs or the extracorporeal therapy on prognosis should be studied in further investigations.
Now I've just selected some other studies, showing that even a couple of years after the pandemic began, it appears that a consensus is still being developed on this question.
Meanwhile, I wouldn't be so cavalier about going maskless, given your increased risk of a serious COVID-19 infection with your CLL comorbidity and the resulting increased risk of cardiovascular events following a COVID-19 infection, per
In this study involving 153,760 people with COVID-19, 5,637,647 contemporary controls and 5,859,411 historical controls—which, altogether, correspond to 12,095,836 person-years of follow-up—we provide evidence that, beyond the first 30 d of infection, people with COVID-19 exhibited increased risks and 12-month burdens of incident cardiovascular diseases, including cerebrovascular disorders, dysrhythmias, inflammatory heart disease, ischemic heart disease, heart failure, thromboembolic disease and other cardiac disorders. The risks were evident regardless of age, race, sex and other cardiovascular risk factors, including obesity, hypertension, diabetes, chronic kidney disease and hyperlipidemia; they were also evident in people without any cardiovascular disease before exposure to COVID-19, providing evidence that these risks might manifest even in people at low risk of cardiovascular disease.
The figures in that document showing the degree of increased risk and burden of incident cardiovascular disease after a COVID-19 infection are chilling.
Spot on Neil, as usual, an erudite, fact filled and fully referenced post.
This is how half-truths and myths are spread, by someone posting a half baked, inaccurate result of a so-called 'medical research'. Then before you know it, what do you know, LDL is actually good!
There are ZERO RCT interventional studies showing a causative link between LDL cholesterol and heart disease. Rather, these studies show higher all-cause mortality from low LDL.
The idea that LDL is bad for you was debunked many years ago. I suggest you read works by Robert Lustwig, David Diamond and many others who have spent their careers studying this issue.
LionShaman, I expect that you are well aware that RCTs (Randomised Clinical Trials), are extremely rare in nutritional science, where longitudinal observational studies are the norm. This fact check, complete with references, outlines why what you claim is a minority view
You just lost all credibility with me. That is nothing but a hit piece paid for and sponsored by big food.
Vegetable seed oils have only been in a human diet for the last 150 years. The rise of obesity, heart disease, and other chronic diseases strongly correlates with the increased consumption of seed oils and processed food. The food industry has a very strong incentive to make sure that messages like "seed oils are bad", are buried and discredited. It's very easy to pay some clown to write a hit piece and post it.
Actually, I haven't said anything about my personal thoughts on how nutritional science has been influenced by the processed food industry. It certainly has!
However, by beginning your post with "There are ZERO RCT interventional studies showing a causative link between LDL cholesterol and heart disease." indicates to me that you have just quoted what someone who is taking a contrary view to the bulk of research on nutritional science has said, relying on people's perception that only an RCT is acceptable proof. It is well accepted that when it comes to nutrutional science, that due the dearth of RCTs because of impracticalities, meta-analyses of good longitudinal studies are our best means of determining the impact of diet on our health.
For the edification of other readers, here is some background on the researchers you mentioned.
Robert Lustwig
Robert H. Lustig (born 1957) is an American pediatric endocrinologist. He is Professor emeritus of Pediatrics in the Division of Endocrinology at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), where he specialized in neuroendocrinology and childhood obesity. He is also director of UCSF's WATCH program (Weight Assessment for Teen and Child Health), and president and co-founder of the non-profit Institute for Responsible Nutrition.[4][5]
Lustig's statements regarding fructose as a "poison" and the primary cause of weight gain have been disputed because claims of fructose toxicity are unproven.[14][15] Excessive consumption of fructose-containing beverages is likely a cause of weight gain and obesity in many people due to the additional caloric intake rather than a specific toxic effect of fructose.[14][16][17][18][19] Fructose – when consumed in excess as a sweetening agent in foods and beverages – is associated with surplus calories and greater risk of obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disorders as components of metabolic syndrome.[14][15][18] Other reviews indicate that fructose has no specific adverse effects compared to any other carbohydrate.[14][15]
Some researchers state that Lustig's YouTube lecture 'Sugar: the bitter truth' was amplified by increased internet use by the public.[20]
David M. Diamond is a professor in the Departments of Psychology and Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology at the University of South Florida and is a Research Career Scientist at the Tampa Veterans Hospital, where he has directed his research program on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injury (TBI). He has also served as the Director of the USF Neuroscience Collaborative program and is a Fellow at the American Institute of Stress and the International Stress and Behavior Society.
Compare your fluff-piece with the detailed research offered in this presentation. youtu.be/7kGnfXXIKZM
I suspect that many of us here on this forum are here because of poor metabolic function as a result of our consumption of seed oils and processed food. These are modern diseases. Ancient humans did not suffer these conditions.
Ancient humans lived just as long if not longer than modern humans if they survived childhood. AVERAGE life expectancies were biased by the high infant mortality rates in earlier times. Modern acute care also leads to longer AVERAGE life expectancies.
Great job finding more hit pieces. The pharmaceutical industry has always targeted anyone who represents a threat. They have effective control over media outlets due to their advertising budgets. They can stifle countering messaging and discredit anyone who counters them.
I suggest people look into the authors I mentioned above. listen to their presentations and decide for yourself.
Do you really think that modern diet, HFCS, processed food, and seed oils play no role in the growth of obesity and chronic disease? That is absolutely astonishing to me. Follow the money.
It takes a 5-second internet search to find the hit pieces. That's not a "Well-researched" post. It barely scratches the surface. Angry. LOL. I will debate subjects I love endlessly. You are not going to convert me with studies that have been debunked.
My triglycerides range between 60 and 80. My HDL is right around the same. 1:1 is a VERY good triglyceride to HDL ratio. My hs-CRP is only 0.37. That is indicative of very low inflammation in my body.youtu.be/YaEmiUfL7ts
This is a great primer on the myth that LDL cholesterol is bad. I think the only people that still think LDL is bad are the doctors are prescribing statins and the manufacturers making statins. Everybody else seems to get it.
Even the original studies that blamed LDL cholesterol were flawed. Interventional studies have shown that low LDL cholesterol is associated with higher all cause mortality. High LDL is protective. Our bodies make LDL cholesterol. The levels are highly regulated in the body.
I am right up there with you on the cholesterol highlands. In one of the books I read there was a statement. Something to the tune of : cholesterol for the immune system is like bullets for your machine gun. Without proper levels of healthy cholesterol the immune system cannot work properly. Vitamin d is made out of cholesterol after all. As far as LDL goes it has many subtypes and only apolypoprotein b is dangerous. Which on a carnivore diet is not an issue because it's levels are low. Furthermore the carnivore diet is associated with high HDL and low triglyceride levels. So it's as good as it gets.
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
Cll and Statins - Thank you for your responses
New guidance issued Christmas eve:
IVIG seems to have shared some antibodies from previous COVID patient
Reactions to COVID boosters
Immune Compromised Patients May Get 3rd Vaccination
