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"Bad" cholesterol is actually not that harmful
Last reviewed: 02.07.2025
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Experts from different countries are constantly conducting research on "bad cholesterol" and how it affects life expectancy. As the results of various research groups have shown, such cholesterol does not shorten life at all - the life expectancy of people with normal and elevated cholesterol levels is on average the same.
The findings were published in one of Britain's medical journals.
In one of their works, specialists analyzed various studies that were conducted in the past. In total, data from about 70 thousand people from different countries, whose age exceeded 60 years, were studied. As a result, the researchers realized that "bad cholesterol" is not as dangerous to health and life as was always believed.
In the past, scientists claimed that such cholesterol increases the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases, and to prevent health problems, such patients were recommended to take statins - drugs that reduce the level of "bad" cholesterol.
During the analysis of previous studies, experts revealed an interesting fact - in almost all cases, patients with high cholesterol died from other causes, it was also established that it is the "bad" cholesterol that has a beneficial effect on the body. Scientists found out that people with high cholesterol lived longer on average, compared to those whose indicators did not exceed the maximum permissible norms.
Experts suggest that increased levels of lipoproteins help the body resist age-related changes, in particular preventing the development of severe age-related diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.
After receiving new data on the effects of cholesterol on the body, scientists intend to continue research in this area and find out why at a young age “bad” cholesterol causes cardiovascular diseases, while in old age (after 60 years) such a relationship is not observed, in addition, the benefits of cholesterol for the body are noted.
Low-density lipoproteins are carriers of “bad” cholesterol, which can provoke atherosclerosis, while high-density lipoproteins reduce the risk of developing vascular and heart disease.
At the University of South Florida, experts have previously proven that in old age, cholesterol levels do not affect life expectancy, and on average, patients with high and normal cholesterol levels lived about the same, and in some cases, people with “bad” cholesterol lived much longer.
In conclusion, the researchers noted that the new work challenges previous assumptions that "bad" cholesterol is one of the main causes of premature death. Previously, it was assumed that such cholesterol poses a health risk after 30 years and provokes various vascular and heart diseases, as well as shortens life expectancy, however, no scientific evidence has been obtained for this.