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Risks of Low HDL

Cholesterol is produced by the liver and acquired through foods, and it is essential for good health. Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol is known as the "bad" cholesterol, while the high-density lipoprotein (HDL) form is considered "good" cholesterol. Cholesterol is measured in milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL), and total blood cholesterol should be below 200 mg/dL, according to the American Heart Association (AHA). Men should have HDL cholesterol levels of 40 or higher, and women 50 or higher.

  1. Heart Disease

    • Low HDL cholesterol is linked to an increased risk for heart disease, according to the AHA, and high levels seem to protect against heart attack. Every 1 percent increase in HDL cholesterol, in fact, is associated with a 1 to 3 percent decrease in heart attack risk, as explained by Harvard Health Publications. Johns Hopkins University notes that low levels of HDL cholesterol increase the risk of narrowed arteries reoccurring after angioplasty surgery.

    High Triglycerides and High LDL Cholesterol

    • People with high levels of blood triglycerides and high levels of LDL cholesterol are at increased risk of heart disease, heart attack and stroke. Low HDL cholesterol levels are associated with high blood triglycerides levels, according to the AHA. HDL cholesterol removes excess LDL cholesterol from the bloodstream, according to the Mayo Clinic.

    Depression

    • Low levels of HDL cholesterol are associated with long-term depression, which in turn is linked to an increased risk of adverse coronary events, according to a study published in a 2008 issue of Progress in Neuropsychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry.

    Stroke in Diabetic Patients

    • Low HDL cholesterol is associated with an increased risk of stroke in elderly people with diabetes, as indicated by a study published in a 2009 issue of the journal Diabetes Care. The study found a significant relationship between low HDL cholesterol and ischemic heart disease (IHD) in diabetics under 65 years old, and also between low HDL cholesterol and cerebrovascular disease (CVD) in participants older than 65.

    Breast Cancer

    • Low HDL cholesterol also was associated with an increased risk of postmenopausal breast cancer in overweight and obese women in a study published in a 2004 issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. Women with the lowest levels of HDL cholesterol were three times more likely to develop postmenopausal breast cancer than women with the highest levels of HDL cholesterol.

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