Meaning of low hdl
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Summary
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These studies suggest low HDL cholesterol levels are associated with a higher risk of autoimmune disease, increased risk of death, sepsis, malignancy, high peripheral blood leukocytes, and increased carotid artery intima-media thickness.
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Understanding the Meaning of Low HDL Cholesterol
Low HDL Cholesterol and Autoimmune Disease Risk
Low levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol have been linked to an increased risk of autoimmune diseases. A study involving over 117,000 individuals from the Copenhagen General Population Study and the Copenhagen City Heart Study found that individuals with HDL cholesterol levels below 1.0 mmol/L (39 mg/dL) had a significantly higher risk of developing autoimmune diseases compared to those with higher HDL levels. This association remained consistent across various subgroups and conditions, suggesting a robust link between low HDL cholesterol and autoimmune disease risk.
Low HDL Cholesterol and Increased Mortality, Sepsis, and Cancer Risk
Extremely low HDL cholesterol levels (≤20 mg/dL) are associated with a higher risk of death, sepsis, and malignancy. A retrospective analysis of hospitalized patients revealed that those with very low HDL levels had a 3.98-fold increase in the odds of fever, a 6.7-fold increase in the risk of cancer, and an inverse relationship with sepsis risk, where each 1 mg/dL increase in HDL was associated with an 11% decrease in sepsis odds. These findings highlight the critical role of HDL in immune function and disease prevention.
Low HDL Cholesterol and White Blood Cell Counts
Low HDL cholesterol is also associated with higher white blood cell counts, indicating a potential link to inflammation. A Mendelian randomization study involving over 107,000 individuals found that lower HDL levels were correlated with higher counts of leukocytes, neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, and eosinophils. This suggests that low HDL cholesterol may contribute to an inflammatory state, further implicating its role in various health conditions.
Low HDL Cholesterol and Cardiovascular Risk
Low HDL cholesterol is a well-known predictor of coronary heart disease (CHD). Research on asymptomatic members of families with low HDL levels showed that lower HDL cholesterol and its subclass HDL2-C were significantly inversely related to carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT), a marker of atherosclerosis. This relationship persisted even after adjusting for age and gender, underscoring the importance of HDL in cardiovascular health.
Complex Role of HDL Cholesterol
Despite the associations between low HDL cholesterol and various health risks, increasing HDL cholesterol levels has not proven to be an effective therapeutic target. This is partly because HDL cholesterol levels do not necessarily reflect HDL function. HDL particles have diverse roles, including reverse cholesterol transport, anti-inflammatory, and antidiabetic properties, which are not captured by simply measuring HDL cholesterol levels. Future research and therapeutic strategies should focus on optimizing HDL function rather than merely increasing HDL cholesterol levels.
Conclusion
Low HDL cholesterol is associated with a range of adverse health outcomes, including increased risks of autoimmune diseases, mortality, sepsis, cancer, and cardiovascular diseases. These associations highlight the multifaceted role of HDL in maintaining health and preventing disease. However, therapeutic strategies should aim to enhance HDL function rather than just increasing HDL cholesterol levels to achieve better health outcomes.
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