We have gotten a few questions about our stance on LDL cholesterol since our recent article on the genetic study showing lower cardiovascular risk in those who have a genetic predisposition to lower LDL cholesterol. It’s a good question and, as Medical Director of the site and a board-certified cardiologist, I will do my best to clarify our position.
First, has Diet Doctor had an official position on LDL? While things change over time as new evidence emerges, I think our most consistent position has been that we don’t know everything we need to know about LDL. I will summarize what we do and don’t know as follows:
The genetic study we recently wrote about was interpreted in accordance with our standing position on LDL. For the population studied, LDL appeared to matter. As we pointed out, the average triglyceride to HDL ratio was 2.5. That is a far cry from the usual 1.5 or less that we see in most low-carb eaters who experience an elevation in their LDL. (And remember, most low-carb eaters do not experience a significant elevation of LDL.) Would LDL matter in those with better metabolic health and low-carb lifestyles?
We don’t know, since it hasn’t been studied.
At Diet Doctor, we know you look to us for trustworthy and useful information to empower you to improve your health and your lives. But at the same time, we have to be honest about what we know and what we do not know, and the strength of the evidence. LDL is a perfect example of the difficulty in that.
So, how are we doing? Please give us feedback if you think we can improve how reliable and trustworthy our information is. We want to help everyone make low carb simple.
Thanks for reading, Bret Scher MD FACC
GuideCholesterol is often viewed negatively due to its historical association with heart disease. However, its role in heart health is controversial. Read on to learn what cholesterol is, how your body uses it, why low-carb and keto diets may lead to a change in blood cholesterol levels.
in Cholesterol 
