eMedicineLive

Cholesterol is a type of fat found in the human body.  It can be divided into the low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and the high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. As far as our memory goes we have always known that the “low density lipoprotein” cholesterol is the “bad cholesterol.” It tends to collect in the lumen of our blood vessels forming a plaque and impeding the blood flow. This may result in a heart attack or stroke. That is why, it sets the panic bells ringing and people are desperate to get rid of it at any cost.

However, a recent study has found that LDL may not be that bad after all. Steve Riechman, a researcher in the Department of Health and Kinesiology, along with his colleagues from the University of Pittsburgh, Kent State University, the Johns Hopkins Weight Management Center and the Northern Ontario School of Medicine, has published a paper in the Journal of Gerontology, which states that LDL is not as bad as is it has always been made out to be and the time has come to change our approach towards it.

The study examined 52 healthy adults who were not into exercising and measured their LDL levels after they were put on vigorous exercises and had gained some muscle mass. They found that the gain in muscle mass was directly proportional to LDL levels.The results of the study may provide an insight into a condition called sarcopenia, which affects about 65% of all men and 30% of all women in the U.S. above the age of 60 and accounts for around $18 billion of health care costs. Patients of sarcopenia tend to lose muscle mass at a rate of 5% per decade after the age of 40. The role of LDL in this condition should be investigated.

According to Riechman, our body needs certain amount of LDL to gain more muscle mass during resistance training. Besides this, LDL serves as a warning sign to look as to why our cholesterol levels are high- is it because of a poor diet, lack of exercise or smoking? The cholesterol requirement of our body is met by LDL. After the work is done, HDL or the “good cholesterol” helps in cleaning up the vessels. Therefore, both LDL and HDL are equally important for our body and to label LDL as “bad cholesterol” is not justifiable.

References:
http://tamunews.tamu.edu/2011/05/04/%E2%80%98bad%E2%80%99-cholesterol-not-as-bad-as-people-think-shows-texas-am-study/