Can Cholesterol Levels be Too Low?

Question
QUESTION: I consulted you a few months ago, because I was concerned about my rising, fasting glucose.  Tested annually, it had risen consistently from 82mg/dl in 2000 to 98mg/dl in 2007.

Your main recommendation was to increase the amount of unsaturated fat in my low-fat diet.  I did so by consuming more tree nuts, avocados, olive oil and canola oil (including canola oil margarine).  I also reduced the already low level of refined carbs in my diet and lightened up a little on total carbs.

I checked my fasting glucose several times before changing my diet, and it averaged 97mg/dl.  I have checked fourteen times since the change, and it has averaged 91mg/dl.  My doc suggested that I also check my glucose two hours after meals for a few days, and those results were well within the normal range.   So, it looks like there has been a benefit to the change in diet.  For sure, it didn't hurt, because I'm enjoying my food more and snacking less.

Something else, totally unexpected, has happened.  My total cholesterol, which had never tested below 94mg/dl, dropped to 73mg/dl - with no apparent change in any variable other than the aforementioned.  Do you think that the extra unsaturated fat could have had something to do with that?  Also, do you think that I need to worry that my cholesterol is too low?  My doc says that there is some evidence to suggest that very low cholesterol can lead to demyelenation of the nerves.  But all of the relevant studies that I've read about lately suggest that the body will always produce adequate cholesterol.

Thank you for your generous help.

ANSWER: Dear Herb,

Since you asked me to answer your question later, this short reply allows you to follow it question up any time.

Tanya

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I haven't withered away from cholesterol depletion yet.  So, I'm still very interested in your answers to my questions.

Thanks,
Herb

Answer
Dear Herb,

Recently, doctors pay more attention to cholesterol composition and less to total cholesterol numbers. Generally speaking, if your decrease is due mostly to the "bad" LDL, it's good but if your "good" HDL levels dropped, too -- it's bad, so you might want to ask your doctor to specify.

There's indication that people may have LDL 40 to 50 mg/dL and be just fine but a low level of high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol is a substantial risk for coronary heart disease.

Hope it helps,

= Tanya Zilberter

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