Canadian investigators examined the relation between low serum total cholesterol and deaths from suicide. Adjusting for age and sex, they found that those in the lowest quarter of total cholesterol concentration had more than six times the risk of committing suicide as did those in the highest quarter.
This 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.
Epidemiology 2001 Mar;12:168-72
As I said in the December 2000 issue:
With so many people taking drugs to lower their cholesterol and half the population predicted to take statin drugs in the future, it is time that we seriously reevaluated what we are doing with them. Just like our weight, there is an optimum with cholesterol as well. Some people believe that the lower your cholesterol, the healthier you are.
Nothing could be further from the truth. If your cholesterol is too low you will have an increased risk of mood disorders, depression, stroke, and violence. And these are only the KNOWN effects right now. There are likely many more currently unknown and unstudied
This best predictor of heart disease with respect to cholesterol is the HDL/total cholesterol ratio.
Unfortunately, many people have low cholesterol who are not taking medications. I am one of them. This is largely due to my having beta thallasemia which is a genetic defect in the size of red blood cells that is also associated with a low cholesterol.
Yes, my risk for heart disease is quite low, but the risk for the other diseases mentioned above is clearly elevated.
It seems that low cholesterol in many individuals is related to a non optimized gall bladder and liver function. However, I have yet to learn of an effectively consistent approach to normalize this issue.
When I do I will certainly share it.
Related Articles:
Low Cholesterol Causes Aggressive Behavior and Depression Low Cholesterol Linked to Stroke Risk Low Cholesterol Linked to Depression Low Cholesterol Linked to Violence Low Cholesterol Linked to Depression Low Cholesterol and Albumin Bad Sign in Elderly Low Cholesterol May Affect Mood
Low Cholesterol Causes Aggressive Behavior and Depression
Low Cholesterol Linked to Stroke Risk
Low Cholesterol Linked to Depression
Low Cholesterol Linked to Violence
Low Cholesterol Linked to Depression Low Cholesterol and Albumin Bad Sign in Elderly Low Cholesterol May Affect Mood