Nov 20, 20232 min read

Optimal "total cholesterol" Level - 3

This is part 3 of a multi-part series of short "illuminations" on cholesterol.

Cholesterol is the most well-known, misunderstood, and demonized of all substances found in humans and animals. If the subject of health comes up in medicine or culture, you can be sure the lead topic will be cholesterol.

Let's explore randomized control trials (RCTs) and cholesterol

The most common trials involved statin drugs to lower "cholesterol." You now know it lowers LDL, not the cholesterol molecule.

Here is a typical RCT.

Here are some questions and answers regarding RCTs - in general - with specifics for this particular RCT.

You thought these trials were designed to measure and thus improve health - WRONG.

These "gold standard" trials seldom represent the general population. Further, the test intervention (drug in this case) is not compared to a safe alternative treatment. Finally, most of the outcomes are measured in meaningless "relative statistics."

What was the REAL agenda of this published RCT?

"We conclude that primary care clinicians can be trained to give a cholesterol-lowering intervention to low-income patients that results in modest, short-term reductions in total cholesterol and LDL-C."

They enrolled 42 physicians to oversee the trial. THIS IS UP TO 42 NEW STATIN CUSTOMERS.

Hmmm. You see, this trial was NEVER about health. It WAS about getting vulnerable doctors to prescribe more statin drugs!

Now, let's look at a population study. This study evaluated 12.8 MILLION PEOPLE (not 184) for many different outcomes.

Here is the conclusion in tabular form.

Note the Hazard Ratio is the increase in the risk of dying young. An HR of 1.0 means no impact on mortality. An HR of 2.5 means a 250% increase in dying young.

What do you want your TC to be? Looks like 230 provides you the best chance for a healthy longevity.

What does your doctor want your value to be?