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Evolution and Cholesterol

Posted Mar 15 2009 3:51pm

I happened to come across this short  statement about cholesterol and health.  Hunter-gatherers had low blood cholesterol levels.  In spite of this, many people attempt to make connections between low cholesterol and a whole host of negative health issues.  I've read where low cholesterol supposedly causes cancer, suicide, etc. 

I've always thought that was a correlation, not a cause-and-effect relationship.  In other words, if someone is suffering from a certain type of disease or condition, this may cause their cholesterol to drop.  In the article I found, the author says, "no enhanced cancer mortality is seen in populations with low cholesterol levels.  It is evident, therefore, that catabolic diseases cause low cholesterol levels instead of the reverse."

Exactly.  Now in the article, the author recommends a low-fat diet based on our evolutionary heritage, but this was published before Cordain revised the macronutrient ratios.  Other than that, it's nice to find someone else with the same view on cholesterol.

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