Overview Cholesterol and vitamin D

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The Cholesterol Cult & Heart Mafia - Aug 2024

The Cholesterol Cult & Heart Mafia: How the process of science evolves into The Science™ of public policy - Substack

Original study ignored some important published data

A mid level of cholesterol mimizes many causes of death

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The Great Cholesterol Scam and The Dangers of Statins - substack June 2024

MidWesternDoctor

• "My primary issue with the statins is not the fact we waste billions each year on a useless therapy (approximately 25 billion per year in America alone). Rather, it’s the fact that they have a very high rate of injury. For example, the existing studies find between a 5-30% rate of injuries, and Dr. Malhotra, having gone through all the existing evidence estimates that 20% of statin users are injured by them."
• "Likewise, statins are well known for having a high percentage of patients discontinue the drugs due to their side effects (e.g., one large study found 44.7% of older adults discontinue the drugs within a year of starting them, while another large study of adults of all ages found 47% discontinued within a year)."

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Vitamin D + Omega-3 reduces Cholesterol and LDL - meta-analysis Feb 2024

The effects of vitamin D and omega-3 co-supplementation on lipid profile in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Mohammad Zamani, Zahra Sohrabi, Ladan Aghakhani, Kimia Leilami, Saeed Nosratabadi, Zahra Namkhah, Cain Clark, Neda Haghighat, Omid Asbaghi, Fatemeh Fathi
Nutrition & Food Science https://doi.org/10.1108/NFS-11-2022-0387 PDF is behind $37 paywall

Previous research indicates that vitamin D and omega-3 co-supplementation may benefit overall health, but current evidence regarding its effects on lipid profile remains unclear. The present systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to examine the effects of vitamin D and omega-3 co-supplementation on lipid profile (total cholesterol [TC], low-density lipoprotein [LDL], triglyceride [TG] and high-density lipoprotein HDL) in adults.

Design/methodology/approach
In this systematic review and meta-analysis, relevant studies were obtained by searching the PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science databases (from inception to January 2022). Weighted mean differences and 95% confidence intervals were estimated via a random-effects model. Heterogeneity, sensitivity analysis and publication bias were reported using standard methods.

Findings
Pooled analysis of six randomized controlled trials (RCTs) revealed that vitamin D and omega-3 co-supplementation yielded significant reductions in TG (p = 0.631). A pooled analysis of five trials indicated a significant association between omega-3 and vitamin D treatment and reductions in TC (p = 0.001) and LDL (p = 0.001). Although, pooled analyses of omega-3 and vitamin D did not significantly affect HDL.

Originality/value
The findings suggest that vitamin D and omega-3 co-supplementation lowers TG, TC and LDL in adults. Future, large-scale, RCTs on various populations are needed to elucidate further beneficial effects of vitamin D and omega-3 co-supplementation on lipid profile and establish guidelines for clinical practice.

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Having so-called normal cholesterol in a society where it’s normal to drop dead of a heart attack isn’t necessarily a good thing - Greger.

How Low Should You Go for Ideal Cholesterol Levels? Dr. Greger's video and transcript Sept 2021

• "Maybe we should define an LDL cholesterol level as optimal only when it no longer causes disease. What a concept! "
• "The majority of the adult population of the world had LDLs of about 50 mg—so that’s the true normal."

Dietary Guidelines: “Eat as Little Dietary Cholesterol as Possible” April 2023
Transcript and short video
Extensive review of many decades of literature.
Ignoring most of the recent studies funded by egg institute
He mentions eggs ==> more Calcium. wonder if Vitamin K2 would help
DrGreger category in VitaminDWiki

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Cholesterol Paradigm Shift in Japan April 2015 - 100 pages

Towards a Paradigm Shift in Cholesterol Treatment. A Re-examination of the Cholesterol Issue in Japan
Ann Nutr Metab 2015;66(suppl 4):1-116 (DOI:10.1159/000381654)

 Download the PDF from VitaminDWiki

Hundreds of charts - here are just two

• Chapter 1 Cholesterol and Mortality
• Chapter 2 Cholesterol and Disease
• Chapter 3 Familial Hypercholesterolemia: The Key to Solving the Cholesterol Myth
• Chapter 4 Japan Atherosclerosis Society (JAS) Guidelines
• Chapter 5 The Latest Edition of the 2012 JAS Guidelines Part I: The Most Important Figure and Table
• Chapter 8 The Latest Edition of the JAS Guidelines (2012) Part IV: The Adverse Effects of Statins
• Chapter 9 Are Statins Effective for Preventing Coronary Heart Disease in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Japan, as the 2012 JAS Guidelines Recommend?
• Chapter 10 Hypertriglyceridemia and Low Levels of High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol: Are They Treatment Targets?

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Death rate and diseases all DECREASE as Cholesterol increased in 167 countries

in 167 countries Death rate,   infectious diseases - - -  non-communicable,   cardio - -
    All decrease as Cholesterol is increased

Detailed files are attached at the bottom of this page

Update Dec 2015 - a reader extracted the data from the spreadsheet

and got the resulting simple Mortality vs. cholesterol level chart

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Suppressed study found that lowering Cholesterol ==> increased the chance of death.

Mercola May 2017

• "The study,18 conducted from 1968 to 1973, included 9,423 participants between the ages of 20 and 97, making it the largest trial of its kind."
• "For every 30-point drop in total cholesterol, there was a 22 percent increased chance of death."
• Statins continue to be prescribed (to lower cholesterol) even though:
  "100 people need to take a statin as a primary preventive for five years in order for one or two people to avoid a heart attack, and none will actually live longer."

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Less cholesterol in the diet resulted in less vitamin D in the blood (in mice) – Feb 2016

• Less cholesterol in diet resulted in less vitamin D in blood (in mice) – Feb 2016 in VitaminDWiki

The Relation of Cholesterol to Vitamin D - 1927

Clinical trial to explore link between vitamin D and cholesterol Jan 2010

$10.6 billion spent in 2009 in the US on cholesterol lowering foods

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Vitamin D and Cholesterol book by Dr, Grimes reviewed at VitaminDWiki

• What is the purpose of cholesterol? 2015 overview by Dr. Grimes

Quote on Cholesterol and vitamin D from Vitamin D Council

Our most important hormones depend upon adequate reserves of cholesterol for their production, and nowhere is this more important than as the precursor substance for the synthesis of Vitamin D, known also as calcitriol. Researchers in this field are sufficiently concerned from the results of their studies to pronounce that we are in the midst of an epidemic of vitamin D deficiency of immense proportion ~ Duane Graveline MD MPH, former NASA Astronaut, former USAF flight surgeon, and retired family doctor.'

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There is a lot of concern that decreasing cholesterol is the WRONG thing to do

A huge number of places on the web describe the problem,such as http://www.thincs.org

High cholesterol is Good

Study from Israel of heart failure patients Dr. Grimes 2018

Decrease in Cholesterol during the last 30 years CDC

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What Is the Connection Between Vitamin D and Cholesterol? WiseGeek

Vitamin D and cholesterol are closely linked, both in bodily processes as well as in nutrition. One important role of cholesterol is that is plays a vital part in the synthesis of vitamin D in the body. In the diet, vitamin D is found in foods that have high levels of cholesterol, such as cod liver oil and eggs. Studies have been done to see if there is a correlation between the levels of vitamin D a person has and their cholesterol levels, but the results are inconclusive.

There is a close connection in the body between Vitamin D and cholesterol. One of the biggest sources of vitamin D for individuals is contact with sunlight; upon exposure to sunlight, the body can synthesize its own vitamin D. Cholesterol is involved in the process of synthesizing vitamin D from sunlight, and without cholesterol, vitamin D synthesis would be impossible.

Dietary sources also provide a connection between Vitamin D and cholesterol. There is typically a correlation between foods that are rich in vitamin D and cholesterol — that being, foods that are high in vitamin D are often also high in cholesterol. For example, cod liver oil is an excellent source of vitamin D, but it is also very high in cholesterol. Other foods that are high in vitamin D are lard and eggs, two foods that are notorious for being high in cholesterol.

Many scientists are researching a possible correlation between an individual’s levels of vitamin D and cholesterol. High cholesterol, also known as hypercholesterolemia, affects many individuals and increases o! one’s risk for heart disease and stroke. It is important to keep cholesterol levels under control in order to stay healthy, which is why many are searching to see if there is a correlation between these two nutrients.

Studies seem to show that individuals with higher levels of vitamin D have lower cholesterol levels and are generally healthier overall than individuals with low levels of vitamin D. Yet; these studies do not show a direct correlation between the two. For example, vitamin D is involved in calcium absorption, so having higher levels of vitamin D may mean that more calcium is being absorbed and that calcium is the nutrient actually causing an effect on cholesterol. Individuals with high levels of vitamin D also may have these high levels because they spend a lot of time outdoors in the sunlight doing physical activities, which is one way to reduce cholesterol. Although studies indicate that individuals with high levels of vitamin D have lower cholesterol, it is unknown whether or not this result is directly related to vitamin D.

There are many benefits of vitamin D, such as helping to regulate levels of calcium, preventing osteoporosis, and improving moods. If one chooses to take vitamin D supplements to help lower cholesterol or to gain any of the many benefits of this nutrient, they should choose their supplements carefully. Two popular types of vitamin D are vitamin D2 and vitamin D3. Vitamin D3 is naturally occurring and easy for the body to process. Vitamin D2 is difficult for the body to process and may result in toxicity. Vitamin D3 is the safer supplement to choose from, and daily recommended dosages should always be followed.

Written by B. Koch, Edited by Jenn Webb, Last Modified: 04 December 2010

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Very low LDL increases the risk of stroke by 2X - April 2019

• Very Low Cholesterol May Increase Stroke Risk New York Times

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Items in both categories, Cholesterol, and Magnesium, are listed here:

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See also at VitaminDWiki

• Statins and vitamin D
• Eating less cholesterol is harmless other than it causes of vitamin D deficiency – June 2011
  • "The great cholesterol myth; unfortunate consequences of Brown and Goldstein's mistake."
• Cholesterol is needed to produce both Vitamin D and Cortisol
  • Hypothesis: High Cortisol reduces Cholesterol available to produce vitamin D
• Overview Obesity and Vitamin D
• from Dr. Oz on VitaminDWiki Cholesterol goes up in the winter to increase the amount to convert to vitamin D
• !Vitamin D production was dependent on cholesterol and not skin color – Feb 2010

Cholesterol category in VitaminDWiki starts with the following

52 items below in the VitaminDWiki category = Cholesterol

see also Overview Hypertension and Vitamin D
Search HLD OR LDL   Overview Cardiovascular and vitamin D
Overview Cholesterol and vitamin D

• Less cholesterol in diet resulted in less vitamin D in blood (in mice) – Feb 2016
• Vitamin D levels are (again) associated with HDL cholesterol levels – Feb 2018
• More cholesterol is associated with more vitamin D – June 2013
• Cholesterol, Vitamins D3 and K2, heart disease, sulfates, LDL, – Masterjohn Interview Jan 2013
• Most Profitable Pill in Medical History Is Based on Flawed Science (Statins) May 2019
• Kids have recently reduced both cholesterol and vitamin D – Aug 2012
• Cholesterol is needed to produce both Vitamin D and Cortisol 2011?
• Cholesterol reduced by Vitamin D plus Calcium – RCT March 2014
• Eating less cholesterol is harmless other than it causes vitamin D deficiency – June 2011
• Vitamin D bioavailability is associated with cholesterol – Jan 2011
• Vitamin D increases HDL
• Overview Cholesterol and vitamin D
• Cholesterol and vitamin D book - 2009

See also on the web

• Cholesterol scam: Disinformation slowly unraveling among health professionals Natural News Feb 2012
• Heart Disease and Cholesterol Myth Health Skeptic approx 2010 - an extensive set of blog posts, lots of links, videos, books,
• Cholesterol and Longevity Mar 2011
  • Each 10-mg/dl increment in HDL cholesterol was associated with a 14% (decrease) in risk of mortality before 85 years of age.

• Cholesterol: It’s All Good Green Med Info Sept 2012
  Those with the highest LDL gained the most muscle mass
  Without cholesterol, he points out; we would die. In fact, studies in the elderly have shown that those with the lowest levels of cholesterol are at the highest risk of death from all causes.
• Natural Niacin Beats Prescription Zetia for Cholesterol Green Med Info Oct 2012
  Vitamin B3 was doing so much better than Zetia that a clinical trial was stopped
  $2 billion of Zetia was sold in 2010 to be used with Statins to reduce cholesterol
  Nothing about vitamin D - but interesting anyway
• Many reasons why vitamin D deficiency has become epidemic
• How LOW Cholesterol Can Harm Your Health Green Medical Information, Sept 2012
  Cholesterol Is Needed To Prevent Aggression:
  Cholesterol Is Needed To Fight Cancer:
  Cholesterol Is Needed To Prevent Hemorrhagic Stroke:
  Cholesterol Is Needed for Memory:
  Cholesterol Helps Us Fight Infection:
• New Drugs for Lipids Set Off Race New York Times Nov 2012
  PCSK9 inhibitors can be used in addition to Statins - not expected until 2015
  No studies so far of > 100 people nor >12 weeks.
  No indication that the new drugs will actually improve the lifespan
  A new drug has to be injected every 2-4 weeks
• TedEx Video The Big Fat Surprise March 2014
  Also: Amazon full Kindle book $12,Insta-read (30 minute) summary by the author $3
• Rise of saturated fat in diet does not raise fats in blood MedNewsToday Nov 2014
  Reporting on a recent PLOS ONE study by Jeff Volek
• Systematic Review Finds No Grounds for Current Warnings Against Saturated Fat Mercola Dec 2014
  meta-analysis of 49 observational studies and 27 randomized controlled trials
  FDA to remove partially hydrogenated oils from the list of "generally recognized as safe."
  No change of policy is anticipated by the American Heart Association
• Evidence to Support Dietary Fat RecommendationsMeta-Analysis Finds Medscape Feb 2015
  Not a single RCT has supported the 1977 US recomensation to reduce saturated fats
  The recommendation had some bad results:
     reducing Vitamin D from the sun (which needs cholesterol),
     increasing the use of Omega-6
     increasing the use of refined carbohydrates
• Cost-effectiveness of 10-Year Risk Thresholds for Initiation of Statin Therapy for Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease JAMA July 2015
  Their simulation "assumes" that cholesterol is bad and that statins are needed and have no side effects.
  Seems like they have missed cholesterol news of the past 5-10 years
• Bidirectional associations between circulating vitamin D and cholesterol levels: The Rotterdam Study
  Two-way Interaction between HDL-C and Vitamin D Aug 2015.
  Increasing Total Cholesterol decreases vitamin D, but not the other way around.
• Cholesterol, Statins, and the Council of Nicaea Oct 2016 Dr. David Grimes
  Framingham Study
  Increased cholesterol increased the death rate for ages 30-39
  
  But, did NOT increase the death rate for ages 56-65
  
  Scotland Study of pravastatin in the 1980s (at the peak of the CHD epidemic
  
  In the 1980s, the “number needed to be treated” (NNT) = 50
  Now NNT = about 500
  Cost of pravastatin to treat 500 men = £ 60,000 (assuming an age of 60 years).
  Note: Vitamin D has much lower NNT than statins
     Multiple Sclerosis NNNT = 1.3
     Asthma NNNT = 27
    Premature birth = 10

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The gene which lowers cholesterol levels results in 88% less heart disease

Proof that Lifelong Cholesterol Reduction Prevents Heart Disease Greger video Feb 2020

• " About 1 in 40 African Americans have a mutation that drops their LDL cholesterol from around 130 down toward more optimal levels. Now, this group didn’t eat healthily to get achieve that drop. It’s just in their genes. More than half had high blood pressure, and there were a lot of smokers and diabetics in the group, yet those with genetically low LDL levels still had a significant reduction in the incidence of coronary heart disease even in the presence of all those other risk factors. How significant? How much less heart disease? A remarkable 88 percent of heart disease was simply gone."