Cholesterol that is too low may boost risk for hemorrhagic stroke

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2019-07/ps-cti062819.php

News Release 2-Jul-2019
Penn State

Current guidelines recommend lowering cholesterol for heart disease risk reduction. New findings indicate that if cholesterol dips too low, it may boost the risk of hemorrhagic stroke, according to researchers.

Over a period of nine years, a Penn State-led study examined the relationship between low-density lipoprotein cholesterol -- LDL, commonly known as "bad" cholesterol -- and hemorrhagic stroke. This type of stroke occurs when a blood vessel bursts in the brain.

The researchers found that participants with LDL cholesterol levels below 70 mg/dL had a higher risk of hemorrhagic stroke.

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"As is true with many things in nutrition, moderation and balance is key when deciding the optimal target level of LDL cholesterol," Gao said. "You can't go to either extreme -- too high or too low. And if you're at a high risk for hemorrhagic stroke due to family history or risk factors like high blood pressure and heavy alcohol drinking, you may want to be extra careful about LDL cholesterol levels."

According to the researchers, low LDL cholesterol is recommended as a way to reduce the risk of a heart attack or ischemic stroke -- the latter when a blood vessel in the brain becomes blocked by a clot. But previous research has suggested a link between very low LDL cholesterol levels and hemorrhagic stroke.

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