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What Happens if We Don't Get Enough Cholesterol?

Cholesterol that is too high can cause heart disease. No one wants heart disease, so we watch what we eat and attempt to keep cholesterol low. But cholesterol has a good side (HDL) and a bad side (LDL). Keeping the HDL high and the LDL low is supposed to be good for our health. But some people don't realize that if either level gets too low, it can cause other health problems.

  1. Ideal Cholesterol Limits

    • Total cholesterol should be less than 200 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dl), according to the Mayo Clinic, in order to be ideal. But low total cholesterol isn't enough. The LDL level should be below 100 mg/dl (under 70 mg/dl if heart disease is hereditary or a serious risk factor), and HDL should be at least 60 mg/dl or higher.

    When LDL Is Too Low

    • While no one wants increased heart disease risk due to high LDL, no one wants to increase their risk of cancer. According to the Mayo Clinic, if LDL drops too low, it can increase the likelihood of cancer.

    When HDL Is Too Low

    • Low HDL levels are also associated with cancer risk. Women with very low good cholesterol levels face increased risk for breast cancer. Low LDL and HDL levels don't just increase cancer risk; they can pose other health concerns as well.

    Cholesterol, Depression and the Brain

    • Cholesterol doesn't just affect our hearts; it affects our brains too. If too low, cholesterol can adversely affect mood, resulting in depression. In fact, since cholesterol is also necessary to maintain memory and concentration, if you don't have enough, both areas can suffer. According to biophysicists at the University of Pennsylvania, they now believe cholesterol infiltrates proteins used for cell communication, which makes its ability to impact mood and other brain functions more significant.

    Aggression and Low Cholesterol

    • A rural study in Minnesota looked at the impact of low cholesterol levels on mood disorders, aggression and suicide in younger males. Dr. William Sheehan along with Stephen Thurber, Ph.D., concluded that low cholesterol levels do play a role in mood disorders in younger male youth. Their study also cites information from a Centers for Disease Control survey in which a potential three-fold risk increase for disruptive school behaviors in youth existed among those who had the lowest measurable cholesterol.

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