High LDL cholesterol levels associated with a reduced risk of diabetes

This study was published in Diabetologia 2015 Sep 26

Study title and authors:
Low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations and risk of incident diabetes: epidemiological and genetic insights from the Framingham Heart Study.
Andersson C, Lyass A, Larson MG, Robins SJ, Vasan RS
Framingham Heart Study, 73 Mt Wayte Avenue, Suite 2, Framingham, MA, 01702-5827, USA.ca@heart.dk.

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26409460

One of the aims of this study was to assess the association of low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels with diabetes risk. The study included 6,011 individuals, (average age 50 years), who were not treated with cholesterol lowering or antihypertensive medications and who were free from cardiovascular disease at the start of the study. Diabetes was assessed at the next examination (average 4.5 years later).

The study found that each standard deviation increase in LDL levels was associated with a 19% reduced risk of diabetes. 

Andersson concluded: "These observations may contribute to our understanding of why lipid-lowering treatment may cause diabetes in some individuals."

http://healthydietsandscience.blogspot.co.uk/2015/10/high-ldl-cholesterol-levels-associated.html?spref=tw

Fascinating! Annoying that the full paper is behind a paywall, interesting that I've never heard of any of the authors before - increasing numbers of researchers now, not just the Usual Suspects, seem to be starting from the premise that everything you think you know is wrong and trying to find out what actually happens.

AFAICR there are something like 18 steps to lipid synthesis, probably more now: it never made sense that the body would evolve such a complex process just to kill us.

chris c wrote:Fascinating! Annoying that the full paper is behind a paywall, interesting that I've never heard of any of the authors before - increasing numbers of researchers now, not just the Usual Suspects, seem to be starting from the premise that everything you think you know is wrong and trying to find out what actually happens.

AFAICR there are something like 18 steps to lipid synthesis, probably more now: it never made sense that the body would evolve such a complex process just to kill us.

There's been a couple of studies recently showing the link between statins and diabetes and this one is pointing in the same direction. I have seen posts over at the other place were some members who'd stopped statins had a decrease in BG levels.

But hey statins could be useful if you get migraines 

http://www.empr.com/medical-news/statin-vitamin-d3-combo-helps-prevent-migraines/article/443094/


Another cure for migraines no statins required 

I had a weird response to atorvastatin, in retrospect I think it was knocking my BG DOWN, rare but in the literature. Never had any side effects from simvastatin, surprisingly, it just reduced my LDL without affecting the dire HDL or trigs. Stopped bothering to take it as I'm now of the age where higher LDL turns out to be protective, and the HDL and trigs are comparatively good. Glucose and insulin levels (well IR) are now largely normal, but his occurred late enough in life that the damage they caused earlier is unlikely to be undoable.