“That was the worst I ever felt in my life,” notes Katherine Faraday, MD in the wonderful documentary Statin Nation.

“There were times when I wondered if I really wanted to go on living.”

Below is the quote of exactly what she says in the movie about the side effects she experienced—fatigue, depression, memory loss, colitis, and dry eyes—and how neither she nor her doctor realized for 2 years that ALL of the problems she had developed were being caused by the Lipitor (atorvastatin) she was taking to lower her cholesterol.

Niacin lowers the risk of a major coronary event (heart attack, death from heart attack or coronary bypass surgery) by an average of 25% according to a meta-analysis of eleven (11) studies which involved a total of 6545 people.

Niacin lowers the risk of a stroke by an average of 26% according to a meta-analysis of eleven (11) studies which involved a total of 6545 people.

Niacin raises HDL cholesterol levels by an average of 20% notes a paper on niacin.

Niacin lowers LDL cholesterol levels by an average of 16% notes a paper on niacin.

Niacin lowers triglyceride levels by an average of 20% notes a paper on niacin.

Extended-release niacin (1500 to 2000 mg per day) lowers levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) by an average of 24% in people starting with higher levels of Lp(a)—starting levels of 92 mg/dL versus 54 mg/dL—according to a study from Russia.

Elevated levels of C-reative protein—above 2 mg/dL—are associated with an increased risk of heart and stroke as noted by the Mayo Clinic.

Note: I prefer immediate-release niacin to extended-release niacin. In the 1980’s there were reports of some liver problems with extended-release niacin, and earlier studies showing benefits of niacin used immediate-release niacin, not extended-release.

“There is so much evidence to show that it is not cholesterol [that increases heart attack risk],” notes Prof. Timothy Noakes, MD, DSc, PhD in an interview that he did on a Fat & Furious podcast.

“Cholesterol is a terribly poor predictor of heart attack risk.”

“It is so pathetic…”

“Unless LDL levels are… 300 mg/dL or higher, they have no value, in isolation, in predicting those individuals at risk of [coronary heart disease].”
— William Castelli, 1996; as noted in this 35-second video clip of cardiologist Dr. Aseem Malhotra.

“Our data support a protective role for [higher LDL levels] against all-cause mortality following incident [heart attack] and [heart failure],” concludes a new study from researchers at the Mayo Clinic.

LDL levels above 130 mg/dL were most protective.

Higher cholesterol levels were associated with an 11-23% lower risk of death in men, and an 8-28% lower risk of death in women compared with men and women with cholesterol levels of less than 193 mg/dL according to the HUNT 2 study from Norway.

Compared to people with LDL cholesterol levels of 70-99 mg per deciliter, people with LDL levels of 50-69 mg per deciliter have a 1.7 times greater risk of bleeding in the brain according to a study by researchers from Pennsylvania State University.

Compared to people with LDL cholesterol levels of 70-99 mg per deciliter, people with LDL levels of less than 50 mg per deciliter have a 2.7 times greater risk of bleeding in the brain according to a study by researchers from Pennsylvania State University.

The study found that people with low cholesterol levels — below 200 mg/dL — who had an ischemic stroke were 88% more likely to die over the next 5 years compared with people who had higher cholesterol levels — above 200 mg/dL.

To say this the other way, people who had an ischemic stroke who had higher cholesterol levels — above 200 mg/dL — were 47% less likely to die over the next 5 years than people with lower cholesterol levels — below 200 mg/dL.

Why would you ever give a statin or any other cholesterol-lowering drug to anyone who has had a stroke after seeing the results of this study?

For years we have been told that lower cholesterol levels are associated with a lower risk of death.

But it turns out that this is not true!

Research shows that the exact opposite is true!

When cholesterol levels fall, people are at a greater risk of death, not a lower risk of death!

This is noted a new review paper by independent researchers Uffe Ravnskov, MD, PhD, author of The Cholesterol Myths, Dr. Malcolm Kendrick, author of The Great Cholesterol Con, and other independent researchers.

In the review paper, they note:

“If high [total cholesterol] was the major cause of CVD [cardiovascular disease], people with high [total cholesterol] should have a higher risk of dying from CVD.

“The hypothesis that high [total cholesterol] causes CVD [cardiovascular disease] was introduced in the 1960s by the authors of the Framingham Heart Study.

“However, in their 30-year follow-up study published in 1987, the authors reported that ‘For each 1 mg/dl drop in [total cholesterol] per year, there was an eleven percent [11%] increase in coronary and total mortality’.

“Three years later the American Heart Association and the US National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute published a joint summary [8] concluding “a one percent reduction in an individual’s [total cholesterol] results in an approximate two percent reduction in CHD [coronary heart disease] risk”.

“The authors fraudulently referred to the Framingham publication to support this widely quoted false conclusion.”

In other words, they’ve been lying to us for 30 years!

There is no association between total cholesterol and the degree of atherosclerosis notes a new review paper by independent researchers Uffe Ravnskov, MD, PhD, author of The Cholesterol Myths, Dr. Malcolm Kendrick, author of The Great Cholesterol Con, and others.

“If high [total cholesterol] causes atherosclerosis, people with high [total cholesterol] should have more atherosclerosis than people with low [total cholesterol]. In 1936 Landé and Sperry found that corrected for age, unselected people with low [total cholesterol] were just as atherosclerotic as people with high [total cholesterol]. Since then their seminal observation has been confirmed in at least a dozen studies,” they note.

Men whose total cholesterol levels were less than 160 mg/dL were 60% MORE likely to die during the next 5-13 years compared with men whose cholesterol levels were 160-199 mg/dL according to a 2008 meta-analysis of 5 studies in Japan which included a total of more than 173,000 people.

In other words, having LOW cholesterol levels was associated with a dramatically HIGHER risk of death.

Based on this data, do you think that it is a mistake to try and lower your cholesterol levels as low as possible as recommended by the “experts”?

Yes, of course it is!

It is a big mistake!

Men whose total cholesterol levels were 200-239 mg/dL were 18% LESS likely to die during the next 5-13 years compared with men whose cholesterol levels were 160-199 mg/dL according to a 2008 meta-analysis of 5 studies in Japan which included a total of more than 173,000 people.

In other words, having HIGHER cholesterol levels was associated with a LOWER risk of death.

Or to say this in reverse, having HIGHER cholesterol levels was associated with a LOWER risk of death.

Why would I want to lower my cholesterol levels?

I don’t!

Men whose total cholesterol levels were 240 mg/dL or greater were 24% LESS likely to die during the next 5-13 years compared with men whose cholesterol levels were 160-199 mg/dL according to a 2008 meta-analysis of 5 studies in Japan which included a total of more than 173,000 people.

In other words, having HIGHER cholesterol levels was associated with a LOWER risk of death.

Or to say this in reverse, having HIGHER cholesterol levels was associated with a LOWER risk of death.

Why would I want to lower my cholesterol levels?

I don’t!

Women whose total cholesterol levels were less than 160 mg/dL were 41% MORE likely to die during the next 5-13 years compared with women whose cholesterol levels were 160-199 mg/dL according to a 2008 meta-analysis of 5 studies in Japan which included a total of more than 173,000 people.

Data from this meta-analysis suggests that elevated cholesterol levels do NOT increase a woman’s risk of death, but if cholesterol levels are LOW — below 160 mg/dL — there is a dramatic (41%) INCREASED risk of death.

Should a woman try to lower her cholesterol levels?

No, I don’t think so!

Women whose total cholesterol levels were 200-239 mg/dL were NO MORE likely to die during the next 5-13 years compared with women whose cholesterol levels were 160-199 mg/dL according to a 2008 meta-analysis of 5 studies in Japan which included a total of more than 173,000 people.

Data from this meta-analysis suggests that elevated cholesterol levels do NOT increase a woman’s risk of death, but if cholesterol levels are LOW — below 160 mg/dL — there is a dramatic (41%) INCREASED risk of death.

Should a woman try to lower her cholesterol levels?

No, I don’t think so!

Women whose total cholesterol levels were 240 mg/dL or GREATER were NO MORE likely to die during the next 5-13 years compared with women whose cholesterol levels were 160-199 mg/dL according to a 2008 meta-analysis of 5 studies in Japan.

Data from this meta-analysis suggests that elevated cholesterol levels do NOT increase a woman’s risk of death, but if cholesterol levels are LOW — below 160 mg/dL — there is a dramatic (41%) INCREASED risk of death.

Should a woman try to lower her cholesterol levels?

No, I don’t think so!

Extended-release niacin (1500 to 2000 mg per day) lowers levels of Lp(a) by an average of 28% in people starting with higher levels of Lp(a)—starting levels of 92 mg/dL versus 54 mg/dL—according to a study from Russia.

Elevated levels of Lp(a) (above 50 mg/dL) are associated with an increased risk of heart attack and stroke according to the Lipoprotein a Foundation.

Note: I prefer immediate-release niacin to extended-release niacin. In the 1980’s there were reports of some liver problems with extended-release niacin, and earlier studies showing benefits of niacin used immediate-release niacin, not extended-release.

The one-third of people with the highest cholesterol levels were 57% less likely to get Parkinson’s during a 20-year follow-up compared to the one-third of people with the lowest cholesterol levels according to a recent study.

The one-third of people with the middle cholesterol levels were 44% less likely to get Parkinson’s compared to the one-third of people with the lowest cholesterol levels.

The say this the other way, the one-third of people with the lowest cholesterol levels were 2.3 times more likely to get Parkinson’s than the one-third of people with the highest cholesterol levels, and they were 1.8 times more likely to get Parkinson’s compared to the one-third of people with the middle cholesterol levels.

“Our study suggests that lowering cholesterol unnecessarily actually may harm the brain,”  Xuemei Huang, MD, PhD lead author of the study was quoted as saying.

Each 100 mg intake of cholesterol per day was associated with a 10% lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease, although this difference was not quite statistically significant, but almost. (Close enough for me.)

Each 0.5 eggs eaten per day was associated with a 11% lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease, although this difference was not quite statistically significant, but almost. (Close enough for me.)

Half an egg contains very roughly 100 mg of cholesterol.

Men with low HDL cholesterol levels of 30 mg/dl or less were 81% more likely to die from cardiovascular disease during an average follow-up of 4.9 years than men with HDL levels of 41-50 mg/dl according to a 2016 study from Canada.

The study found that HDL levels that were either too high (>90 mg/dl) or too low (≤30 mg/dl) were associated with an increased risk of death when compared to men with more moderate HDL levels (41-80 mg/dl).

Men with low HDL cholesterol levels of 30 mg/dl or less were 61% times more likely to die from cancer during an average follow-up of 4.9 years than men with HDL levels of 41-50 mg/dl according to a 2016 study from Canada.

The study found that HDL levels that were either too high (>90 mg/dl) or too low (≤30 mg/dl) were associated with an increased risk of death when compared to men and women with more moderate HDL levels (41-80 mg/dl).

Men with low HDL cholesterol levels of 30 mg/dl or less were 2 times more likely to die from non-cancer and non-cardiovascular causes during an average follow-up of 4.9 years than men with HDL levels of 41-50 mg/dl according to a 2016 study from Canada.

The study found that HDL levels that were either too high (>90 mg/dl) or too low (≤30 mg/dl) were associated with an increased risk of death when compared to men and women with more moderate HDL levels (41-80 mg/dl).

Women with low HDL cholesterol levels of 30 mg/dl or less were 2.3 times more likely to die from cardiovascular disease during an average follow-up of 4.9 years than women with HDL levels of 51-60 mg/dl according to a 2016 study from Canada.

The study found that HDL levels that were either too high (>90 mg/dl) or too low (≤30 mg/dl) were associated with an increased risk of death when compared to men and women with more moderate HDL levels (41-80 mg/dl).

Women with low HDL cholesterol levels of 30 mg/dl or less were 2 times more likely to die from cancer during an average follow-up of 4.9 years than women with HDL levels of 51-60 mg/dl according to a 2016 study from Canada.

The study found that HDL levels that were either too high (>90 mg/dl) or too low (≤30 mg/dl) were associated with an increased risk of death when compared to men and women with more moderate HDL levels (41-80 mg/dl).

Women with low HDL cholesterol levels of 30 mg/dl or less were 2.9 times more likely to die from non-cancer and non-cardiovascular causes during an average follow-up of 4.9 years than women with HDL levels of 51-60 mg/dl according to a 2016 study from Canada.

The study found that HDL levels that were either too high (>90 mg/dl) or too low (≤30 mg/dl) were associated with an increased risk of death when compared to men and women with more moderate HDL levels (41-80 mg/dl).

Men with high HDL cholesterol levels of greater than 90 mg/dl were 68% more likely to die (from any cause) during an average follow-up of 4.9 years than men with HDL levels of 51-60 mg/dl according to a 2016 study from Canada.

(12.1 per 1,000 men with HDL levels greater than 90 mg/dl died versus 7.2 men with HDL levels of 51-60 mg/dl. 12.1 divided by 7.2 equals 1.68.)

The study found that HDL levels that were either too high (>90 mg/dl) or too low (≤30 mg/dl) were associated with an increased risk of death when compared to men with more moderate HDL levels (41-80 mg/dl).

Men with high HDL cholesterol levels of greater than 90 mg/dl were 47% more likely to die from cardiovascular disease during an average follow-up of 4.9 years than men with HDL levels of 51-60 mg/dl according to a 2016 study from Canada.

(2.8 per 1,000 men with HDL levels greater than 90 mg/dl died from cardiovascular disease versus 1.9 men with HDL levels of 51-60 mg/dl. 2.8 divided by 1.9 equals 1.47.)

The study found that HDL levels that were either too high (>90 mg/dl) or too low (≤30 mg/dl) were associated with an increased risk of death when compared to men with more moderate HDL levels (41-80 mg/dl).

Men with high HDL cholesterol levels of greater than 90 mg/dl were 36% more likely to die from cancer during an average follow-up of 4.9 years than men with HDL levels of 51-60 mg/dl according to a 2016 study from Canada.

(3.4 per 1,000 men with HDL levels greater than 90 mg/dl died from cardiovascular disease versus 2.5 men with HDL levels of 51-60 mg/dl. 3.4 divided by 2.5 equals 1.36.)

The study found that HDL levels that were either too high (>90 mg/dl) or too low (≤30 mg/dl) were associated with an increased risk of death when compared to men with more moderate HDL levels (41-80 mg/dl).

Men with high HDL cholesterol levels of greater than 90 mg/dl were 2.2 times more likely to die from causes other than dying from cancer or cardiovascular disease (119% more likely) during an average follow-up of 4.9 years than men with HDL levels of 51-60 mg/dl according to a 2016 study from Canada.

(5.9 per 1,000 men with HDL levels greater than 90 mg/dl died from cardiovascular disease versus 2.7 men with HDL levels of 51-60 mg/dl. 5.9 divided by 2.7 equals 2.19.)

The study found that HDL levels that were either too high (>90 mg/dl) or too low (≤30 mg/dl) were associated with an increased risk of death when compared to men with more moderate HDL levels (41-80 mg/dl).

Women with high HDL cholesterol levels of greater than 90 mg/dl were 21% more likely to die (from any cause) during an average follow-up of 4.9 years than women with HDL levels of 61-70 mg/dl according to a 2016 study from Canada.

(6.8 per 1,000 women with HDL levels greater than 90 mg/dl died versus 5.6 women with HDL levels of 51-60 mg/dl. 12.1 divided by 7.2 equals 1.68.)

The study found that HDL levels that were either too high (>90 mg/dl) or too low (≤30 mg/dl) were associated with an increased risk of death when compared to women with more moderate HDL levels (41-80 mg/dl).

Women with high HDL cholesterol levels of greater than 90 mg/dl were 0% more likely to die from cardiovascular disease during an average follow-up of 4.9 years than women with HDL levels of 61-70 mg/dl according to a 2016 study from Canada.

(1.6 per 1,000 women with HDL levels greater than 90 mg/dl died versus 1.6 women with HDL levels of 61-70 mg/dl. 1.6 divided by 1.6 equals 1.0.)

The study found that HDL levels that were either too high (>90 mg/dl) or too low (≤30 mg/dl) were associated with an increased risk of death when compared to women with more moderate HDL levels (41-80 mg/dl).

Women with high HDL cholesterol levels of greater than 90 mg/dl were 100% more likely to die from cancer during an average follow-up of 4.9 years than women with HDL levels of 61-70 mg/dl according to a 2016 study from Canada.

(2.2 per 1,000 women with HDL levels greater than 90 mg/dl died versus 2.0 women with HDL levels of 61-70 mg/dl. 2.2 divided by 2.0 equals 1.10.)

The study found that HDL levels that were either too high (>90 mg/dl) or too low (≤30 mg/dl) were associated with an increased risk of death when compared to women with more moderate HDL levels (41-80 mg/dl).

Women with high HDL cholesterol levels of greater than 90 mg/dl were 50% more likely to die from causes other than dying from cancer or cardiovascular disease during an average follow-up of 4.9 years than women with HDL levels of 61-70 mg/dl according to a 2016 study from Canada.

(3.0 per 1,000 women with HDL levels greater than 90 mg/dl died versus 2.0 women with HDL levels of 61-70 mg/dl. 3.0 divided by 2.0 equals 1.50.)

The study found that HDL levels that were either too high (>90 mg/dl) or too low (≤30 mg/dl) were associated with an increased risk of death when compared to women with more moderate HDL levels (41-80 mg/dl).

Women with high HDL cholesterol levels of greater than 90 mg/dl were 50% times more likely to die from other causes other than dying from cancer or cardiovascular disease during an average follow-up of 4.9 years than women with HDL levels of 61-70 mg/dl according to a 2016 study from Canada.

(3.0 per 1,000 women with HDL levels greater than 90 mg/dl died from cardiovascular disease versus 2.0 women with HDL levels of 61-70 mg/dl. 3.0 divided by 2.0 equals 1.5.)

The study found that HDL levels that were either too high (>90 mg/dl) or too low (≤30 mg/dl) were associated with an increased risk of death when compared to women with more moderate HDL levels (41-80 mg/dl).