Lower CholesterolCholesterol Too Low – What are the dangers of a too low cholesterol?
Cholesterol is often viewed as “bad” these days, and many people are doing everything they can to lower cholesterol levels as much as possible. This isn’t necessarily a good thing.
Cholesterol is essential for many normal bodily functions. Enzymes use cholesterol to produce vitamin D, steroid hormones (estrogen, progesterone, testosterone), stress hormones, and bile acids for digestion. Cholesterol forms a membrane that surrounds all cells and is also a critical part of regenerating damaged endothelial cells (the inner layer of blood vessel walls).
For most individuals, if you do not eat enough dietary cholesterol, the liver produces the cholesterol needed for bodily functions. The amount of cholesterol in your diet determines how much the liver produces.
Cholesterol is essential for optimal health, and pushing levels too low can cause problems.
Cholesterol is essential for optimal health, and pushing levels too low can cause problems. Back in 1994, the American Heart Association issued a statement noting an increase in deaths from trauma, cancer, hemorrhagic stroke, respiratory diseases, and infectious diseases in individuals with cholesterol levels less than 160 mg/dL. It’s worth noting that a large number of these deaths seemed to be due to poor health unrelated to the low cholesterol levels.
Eight steps to lower your cholesterol
However, since then, many studies have linked low cholesterol levels with depression, impulsivity, aggression, and anxiety when levels drop below 160 mg/dL. One theory is that too-low cholesterol alters brain cell function, and that brain cells with low cholesterol levels may have fewer receptors for the mood-elevating neurotransmitter serotonin. This could be part of the reason low cholesterol levels are associated with higher rates of depression.
With the rapidly rising use of medications such as statin drugs, I’m noticing individuals reporting cholesterol levels that are dropping into potentially dangerous territory. Work with your physician to ensure you maintain healthy cholesterol levels appropriate for you.
All the best,
Lisa Nelson, RD
Recommended resource
Where I send people for supplements
Food first, always. When a supplement is worth considering, the front of the bottle is marketing and the supplement facts panel is the actual content. Two bottles at the same price can differ by half in what they deliver.
My dispensary carries practitioner-grade products, most of which aren’t sold direct to consumers, with the reasoning behind each one.
I may earn a commission on dispensary orders.