Ha ha ....Cholesterol jokes...I trust them...they are doctors

Ha! Lifehacker tried hard to be controversial but couldn't make it!

Last night I pointed to a piece on Lifehacker which listed some health myths which they "busted".  One of them was to do with cholesterol.  Of course the cholesterol hypothesis as usually understood is a pile of microbiome, and initially Lifehacker in their post pointed this out.  I cut and pasted the relevant paragraph into yesterday's post.

Today that whole paragraph has disappeared!  Instead there is something on snake venom with this footnote:

Note: Myth 9 previously discussed the relationship between high cholesterol and heart disease. We were working with some bad information and now believe it was incorrect, so we've added this snake bite myth instead. We apologize for any confusion or misinformation.

What a bunch of tossers!  They originally pointed to Malcolm Kendrick and Chris Kresser who refuted the cholesterol hypothesis but they now think that all that was "bad".    Ha.

Here is another refutation.

The tide is turning - myths debunked...cholesterol is OK!

 UPDATE CHECK OUT THIS UPDATE

Lifehacker today had a post listing a series of health myths which are contradicted by science.....some are the obvious ones - e.g. cold weather does't give you a cold - but surprisingly for a "conventional wisdom" type blog, they also state:

Myth 9: High Cholesterol Causes Heart Disease

Until writing this article, I believed high cholesterol was the primary contributing factor towards heart disease. It's been a myth I've been told my entire life because I'm prone to cholesterol problems and have watched my levels very carefully since I was a child. According to Dr. Malcolm Kendrick, and many others, the data doesn't consistently link high cholesterol with heart problems. It seems the real culprit is more commonly high blood pressure, and cholesterol problems may have found themselves grouped in because the two issues often appeared together. This doesn't mean you want higher levels of cholesterol (with the exception of your HDLs), but that if you're worrying about a heart attack it's not the first sign of trouble.

Well there you go....who would have thought it?

Rethinking cholesterol

about time too

Rethinking dietary cholesterol.

The lines of evidence coming from current epidemiological studies and from clinical interventions utilizing different types of cholesterol challenges support the notion that the recommendations limiting dietary cholesterol should be reconsidered.

Is bad cholesterol bad?

I have little faith in the whole cholesterol hypothesis and the labelling of something as "bad" just seems to be dumbing down to the extreme.

Anyway, this was interesting:

'Bad' cholesterol not as bad as people think, shows Texas A&M studyCOLLEGE STATION, May 4, 2011 – The so-called "bad cholesterol" – low-density lipoprotein commonly called LDL – may not be so bad after all, shows a Texas A&M University study that casts new light on the cholesterol debate, particularly among adults who exercise. .....

more on milk

here is another recent one on dairy, this time pointed out to me by reader Matthew Clarke:

Hepatic accumulation of intestinal cholesterol is decreased and fecal cholesterol excretion is increased in mice fed a high-fat diet supplemented with milk phospholipids

So eat a high fat diet, but don't get a fatty liver.....because you shit out the cholesterol, if you are also eating milk phospholipids... ( and if you are a mouse)


The whole paper is available

I like the last sentence of the paper:

Whether or not this is of therapeutic relevance in man remains to be determined.

maybe something that should be written about every animal study out there!

Grass based health - diet presentation

This is superb!  It is from Peter Ballerstedt, PhD:

A discussion of the difference between the official dietary guidelines (and the "conventional wisdom" they've informed) and what the science has, in fact, shown regarding the importance of animal protein and animal fat in the human diet. The impact of the official dietary guidelines, and the scientific findings, upon animal agriculture is discussed.

Grasse Based Health - Food for Thought from Peter Ballerstedt on Vimeo.

"Food for Thought.” Peter Ballerstedt, PhD.

Emphasise animal fat....minimise carbohydrate.

There is no justification for a plant-only diet

This is buzzing round the blogs at the moment (e.g. read Kurt) but it is something that needs to be promoted so I'll do my bit.

Please read this:

The China Study: Fact or Fallacy?

Denise Minger has analysed the data on which Campbell based his book The China Study in which, to quote wikipedia, the authors conclude:

that diets high in animal protein (including casein in cow's milk) are strongly linked to diseases such as heart disease, cancer, and Type 2 diabetes.

Denise has gone back to the data and analysed it herself......and the conclusions are a bit different from those that Campbell arrived at.

In sum, “The China Study” is a compelling collection of carefully chosen data. Unfortunately for both health seekers and the scientific community, Campbell appears to exclude relevant information when it indicts plant foods as causative of disease, or when it shows potential benefits for animal products. This presents readers with a strongly misleading interpretation of the original China Study data, as well as a slanted perspective of nutritional research from other arenas (including some that Campbell himself conducted).

Please read the original and check out Stephan, Kurt, Richard and Robb - each with an excellent analysis.

Something that both Kurt and Stephan pick up on is that while animal food is apparently not a problem wheat is.

UPDATE - Campbell responded to Denise's critique......but Denise has taken his response apart again with great precisions.

Fasting and cholesterol.....

Now I don't think cholesterol is evil...in fact I am a fan....but spotted this the other day.

I have not had much up here about intermittent fasting / IF for a while. (For those interested I like both Brad Pilon and Martin Berkhan's approaches). Anyway, this report indicates that fasting prompts an enzyme that turns off the body's generation of fats and cholesterol.

As I said I don't think dietary cholesterol is a problem, and I'd disagree with some of the stuff in the article about a high fat diet, but this is an interesting finding for those who practice intermittent fasting.

When Food Intake Stops, Enzyme Turns Off Production of Fats, Cholesterol

"This study is significant because it explains the signals that tell the body to burn fat in response to fasting or dieting," says David Sinclair, PhD, a professor of Pathology at Harvard Medical School (HMS) who helped discover the genes that code for sirtuins but was not involved with this MGH-led study. "This improved understanding could help treat and prevent metabolic diseases such as atherosclerosis and type 2 diabetes."

Low cholesterol is bad.....

This isn't particularly new but Seth just pointed it out and I wanted to make a note of it

“Cholesterol levels in men with dementia and, in particular, those with Alzheimer disease had declined at least 15 years before the diagnosis and remained lower than cholesterol levels in men without dementia throughout that period.” Body weight also declines before the diagnosis.

The abstract is here.

CONCLUSION: A decline in serum total cholesterol levels may be associated with early stages in the development of dementia.

Yet everyone thinks that lowered cholesterol is a good thing.

Fat consumption and heart disease

See what you make of this:

Dietary cholesterol and egg consumption were associated with increased CVD risk ONLY in those with type 2 diabetes.

Comments?

Low Carb diets reverse clogged arteries

I spotted this on the BBC the other day.

Actually, it is not just low carb diets. The researchers looked at 3 different diets:

Researchers studied 140 people (88 percent men, average age 51, Body Mass Index 30.4) who were randomly assigned to a low-carbohydrate, low fat or Mediterranean diet as part of the Dietary Intervention Randomized Controlled Trial-carotid (DIRECT) study.

What doesn't really hit the headlines is that while each of the diets was effective in reversing the atherosclerosis process, the low carb diet was the most effective in terms of its favorable effects on lipids in the blood.

Even the BBC note:

"Some people suggest that low-carbohydrate diets are more likely to clog arteries, but we did not see that."

Sounds like something for Dr Davies




Here is the study abstract:

Dietary Intervention to Reverse Carotid Atherosclerosis.

BACKGROUND: -It is currently unknown whether dietary weight loss interventions can induce regression of carotid atherosclerosis. Methods and Results-In a 2-year Dietary Intervention Randomized Controlled Trial-Carotid (DIRECT-Carotid) study, participants were randomized to low-fat, Mediterranean, or low-carbohydrate diets and were followed for changes in carotid artery intima-media thickness, measured with standard B-mode ultrasound, and carotid vessel wall volume (VWV), measured with carotid 3D ultrasound. Of 140 complete images of participants (aged 51 years; body mass index, 30 kg/m(2); 88% men), higher baseline carotid VWV was associated with increased intima-media thickness, age, male sex, baseline weight, blood pressure, and insulin levels (P<0.05 for all). After 2 years of dietary intervention, we observed a significant 5% regression in mean carotid VWV (-58.1 mm(3;) 95% confidence interval, -81.0 to -35.1 mm(3); P<0.001), with no differences in the low-fat, Mediterranean, or low-carbohydrate groups (-60.69 mm(3), -37.69 mm(3), -84.33 mm(3), respectively; P=0.28). Mean change in intima-media thickness was -1.1% (P=0.18). A reduction in the ratio of apolipoprotein B100 to apolipoprotein A1 was observed in the low-carbohydrate compared with the low-fat group (P=0.001). Participants who exhibited carotid VWV regression (mean decrease, -128.0 mm(3); 95% confidence interval, -148.1 to -107.9 mm(3)) compared with participants who exhibited progression (mean increase, +89.6 mm(3); 95% confidence interval, +66.6 to +112.6 mm(3)) had achieved greater weight loss (-5.3 versus -3.2 kg; P=0.03), greater decreases in systolic blood pressure (-6.8 versus -1.1 mm Hg; P=0.009) and total homocysteine (-0.06 versus +1.44 mumol/L; P=0.04), and a higher increase of apolipoprotein A1 (+0.05 versus -0.00 g/L; P=0.06). In multivariate regression models, only the decrease in systolic blood pressure remained a significant independent modifiable predictor of subsequent greater regression in both carotid VWV (beta=0.23; P=0.01) and intima-media thickness (beta=0.28; P=0.008) levels. Conclusions-Two-year weight loss diets can induce a significant regression of measurable carotid VWV. The effect is similar in low-fat, Mediterranean, or low-carbohydrate strategies and appears to be mediated mainly by the weight loss-induced decline in blood pressure.

Cholesterol and Alzheimer's

My Dad has started to get a wee bit confused and forgetful, so things like this are really interesting to me.

Tom Naughton pointed this out

There is a clear reason why statins would promote Alzheimer’s. They cripple the liver’s ability to synthesize cholesterol, and as a consequence the level of LDL in the blood plummets. Cholesterol plays a crucial role in the brain, both in terms of enabling signal transport across the synapse and in terms of encouraging the growth of neurons through healthy development of the myelin sheath. Nonetheless, the statin industry proudly boasts that statins are effective at interfering with cholesterol production in the brain as well as in the liver.

Researchers are only recently discovering that both fat and cholesterol are severely deficient in the Alzheimer’s brain. It turns out that fat and cholesterol are both vital nutrients in the brain. The brain contains only 2% of the body’s mass, but 25% of the total cholesterol. Cholesterol is essential both in transmitting nerve signals and in fighting off infections.

High cholesterol is positively correlated with longevity in people over 85 years old, and has been shown to be associated with better memory function and reduced dementia. The converse is also true: a correlation between falling cholesterol levels and Alzheimer’s.

The original article - The Clue to Why Low Fat Diet and Statins may Cause Alzheimer's - is definitely worth reading

Cholesterol myth....

Apologies for the embarrassing Mercola sales blurb at the end



Rosedale's essay on insulin has been linked to on this blog since the start - required reading...

thanks

A couple more low carb studies

First one says that a low carb diet including eggs - i.e. adding cholesterol - has good effects on both insulin resistance and the hormones that make you feel full.

Carbohydrate restriction (with or without additional dietary cholesterol provided by eggs) reduces insulin resistance and plasma leptin without modifying appetite hormones in adult men.

Carbohydrate-restricted diets (CRDs) have been shown to reduce body weight, whereas whole egg intake has been associated with increased satiety. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of additional dietary cholesterol and protein provided by whole eggs while following a CRD on insulin resistance and appetite hormones. Using a randomized blind parallel design, subjects were allocated to an egg (640 mg/d additional dietary cholesterol) or placebo (0 mg/d additional dietary cholesterol) group for 12 weeks while following a CRD. There were significant reductions in fasting insulin (P < .025) and fasting leptin concentrations (P < .01) for both groups, which were correlated with the reductions in body weight and body fat (P < .05 and P < .01, respectively). Both groups reduced insulin resistance as measured by the homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (P < .025). There was a significant decrease in serum glucose levels observed after the intervention. We did not observe the expected increases in plasma ghrelin levels associated with weight loss, suggesting a mechanism by which subjects do not increase appetite with CRD. To confirm these results, the subjective measures of satiety using visual analog scale showed that both groups felt more "full" (P < .05), "satisfied" (P < .001), and "wanted to eat less" (P < .001) after the intervention. These results indicate that inclusion of eggs in the diet (additional dietary cholesterol) did not modify the multiple beneficial effects of CRD on insulin resistance and appetite hormones.


Second one is low carb in people with Diabetes (Type II). Limiting your carbs is a good as taking insulin.... Full study available


Effects of a low-carbohydrate diet on glycemic control in outpatients with severe type 2 diabetes

We previously demonstrated that a loosely restricted 45%-carbohydrate diet led to greater reduction in hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) compared to high-carbohydrate diets in outpatients with mild type 2 diabetes (mean HbA1c level: 7.4%) over 2 years. To determine whether good glycemic control can be achieved with a 30%-carbohydrate diet in severe type 2 diabetes, 33 outpatients (15 males, 18 females, mean age: 59 yrs) with HbA1c levels of 9.0% or above were instructed to follow a low-carbohydrate diet (1852 kcal; %CHO:fat:protein = 30:44:20) for 6 months in an outpatient clinic and were followed to assess their HbA1c levels, body mass index and doses of antidiabetic drugs. HbA1c levels decreased sharply from a baseline of 10.9 +/- 1.6% to 7.8 +/- 1.5% at 3 months and to 7.4 +/- 1.4% at 6 months. Body mass index decreased slightly from baseline (23.8 +/- 3.3) to 6 months (23.5 +/- 3.4). Only two patients dropped out. No adverse effects were observed except for mild constipation. The number of patients on sulfonylureas decreased from 7 at baseline to 2 at 6 months. No patient required inpatient care or insulin therapy. In summary, the 30%-carbohydrate diet over 6 months led to a remarkable reduction in HbA1c levels, even among outpatients with severe type 2 diabetes, without any insulin therapy, hospital care or increase in sulfonylureas. The effectiveness of the diet may be comparable to that of insulin therapy.

Low Carb diet for mental health.....

I had a post up a few days ago about low carb diets making people happier. And then there was the post about cholesterol and mental function.

Here is another:

Schizophrenia, gluten, and low-carbohydrate, ketogenic diets: a case report and review of the literature

It is a case study of a schizophrenic who is "cured" after adopting a low carbohydrate diet. Very interesting stuff.

Polyunsaturated fat and cancer

I've had posts before about the way in which a low carb diet seems to be effective in treating cancer. Cancer cells need sugar to survive so starving them of glucose starves them. Richard has had good posts on the same lines too.

Anyway I spotted this story today:

New findings measure precise impact of fat on cancer spread

Researchers at Purdue University have precisely measured the impact of a high-fat diet on the spread of cancer, finding that excessive dietary fat caused a 300 percent increase in metastasizing tumor cells in laboratory animals.

interesting....it might put you off eating fat! BUT when you read on a bit beyond the headline you find out that it is not all fat that is the problem....it is polyunsaturated fat! That is supposed to be the healthy fat.

The researches used the imaging and cell-counting tools to document that linoleic acid, which is predominant in polyunsaturated fats, caused increasing membrane phase separation, whereas oleic acid, found in monounsaturated fats, did not. Increased membrane phase separation could improve the opportunity of circulating tumor cells to adhere to blood vessel walls and escape to organs far from the original tumor site. The new findings support earlier evidence from other research that consuming high amounts of polyunsaturated fat may increase the risk of cancer spreading.

So all these people getting rid of butter and scoffing their "healthy" margarine do not know what they are risking.

As usual of course Barry Groves is ahead of the pack on this one: Polyunsaturated Oils Increase Cancer Risk






.

Cholesterol is healthy

Just wanted to point to a couple of recent pieces on cholesterol.

Cholesterol-reducing Drugs May Lessen Brain Function, Says Researcher

If you try to lower the cholesterol by taking medicine that is attacking the machinery of cholesterol synthesis in the liver, that medicine goes to the brain too. And then it reduces the synthesis of cholesterol which is necessary in the brain," said Shin. In his experiments, Shin tested the activity of the neurotransmitter-release machinery from brain cells without cholesterol present and measured how well the machinery functioned. He then included cholesterol in the system and again measured the protein function. Cholesterol increased protein function by five times.

Chris Masterjohn's been saying the same thing for years.

Anyway, I do not want statins!



Peter had a great post as well looking some of the dodgy science which gave rise to the whole cholesterol is bad thing.

Low Carb diet makes you happier?

Dr Briffa pointed this out (I'll have to interview him sometime!) People feel better on a low carb diet than they do on a low fat diet.

Here is the abstract:

Effects of two weight-loss diets on health-related quality of life
Purpose To compare the effects of two diets on health-related quality of life (HRQOL).
Methods Overweight volunteers (n = 119) were randomized to follow a low-carbohydrate, ketogenic diet (LCKD) or a low-fat diet (LFD) for 24 weeks. HRQOL was measured every 4 weeks using the Short Form-36 and analyzed using linear mixed-effects models.
Results The mean age was 45 years and mean baseline body mass index was 34 kg/m2; 76% were women. At 24 weeks, five subscales (Physical Functioning, Role-Physical, General Health, Vitality, Social Functioning) and the Physical Component Summary score improved similarly in both diet groups. Bodily Pain improved in the LFD group only, whereas the Role-Emotional and Mental Health subscales and the Mental Component Summary (MCS) score improved in the LCKD group only. In comparison with the LFD group, the LCKD group had a statistically significant greater improvement in MCS score (3.1; 95%CI 0.2–6.0; effect size = 0.44) and a borderline significant greater improvement in the Mental Health subscale (5.0; 95%CI −0.3–10.4; effect size = 0.37).
Conclusions Mental aspects of HRQOL improved more in participants following an LCKD than an LFD, possibly resulting from the LCKD’s composition, lack of explicit energy restriction, higher levels of satiety or metabolic effects.

It is not too surprising. Low fat diets have do not seem to be good for mental health. Barry Groves has an interesting story on his site.

Then there is this study - those whose serum cholesterol was below 4.27 mmol/l were six times more likely to attempt suicide than those with cholesterol above 5.77.


Low Serum Cholesterol Concentration and Risk of Suicide

Abstract

Recent reports have suggested a link between low serum total cholesterol and risk of death from suicide. We examined this association using participants in the 1970-1972 Nutrition Canada Survey. We determined the mortality experience of Nutrition Canada Survey participants older than 11 years of age at baseline through 1993 by way of record linkage to the Canadian National Mortality Database. The relation between low serum total cholesterol and mortality from suicide was assessed using a stratified analysis (N = 11,554). There were 27 deaths due to suicide. Adjusting for age and sex, we found that those in the lowest quartile of serum total cholesterol concentration (<4.27 ratio =" 6.39;" interval =" 1.27-32.1)">5.77 mmol/liter). Increased rate ratios of 2.95 and 1.94 were observed for the second and third quartiles, respectively. The effect persisted after the exclusion from the analysis of the first 5 years of follow-up and after the removal of those who were unemployed or who had been treated for depression. These data indicate that low serum total cholesterol level is associated with an increased risk of suicide.

Statins are bad....

As we have been saying already.

Dr Briffa here discusses the danger of cutting your cholesterol....

and there is also this new review of the nasty adverse effects of statins:

First comprehensive paper on statins' adverse effects released: Provides evidence for reported side effects including muscle and cognitive problems

"The risk of adverse effects goes up as age goes up, and this helps explain why," said Golomb. "This also helps explain why statins' benefits have not been found to exceed their risks in those over 70 or 75 years old, even those with heart disease." High blood pressure and diabetes are linked to higher rates of mitochondrial problems, so these conditions are also clearly linked to a higher risk of statin complications, according to Golomb and co-author Marcella A. Evans, of UC San Diego and UC Irvine Schools of Medicine.