title: LDL cholesterol: the lower the better.
abstract: High cholesterol is often a prerequisite for atherosclerotic plaque. Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) is the focus of the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel guidelines. LDL-C ranges from 50 to 70 mg/dL in native hunter-gatherers, healthy human neonates, free-living primates, and other wild mammals, who are notably free of atherosclerotic vascular disease. Multiple statin trials and meta-analyses support a treatment target of LDL-C levels less than 70 mg/dL, as this is associated with improved clinical outcomes and atherosclerosis regression. In fact, no threshold has yet been identified below which patients do not benefit from lowering of LDL-C.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins Ciccarone Center for the Prevention of Heart Disease, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA.
authors.forename: Seth S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: Roger S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Blumenthal
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Miller
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D000818:Animals; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood*; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006801:Humans; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D050356:Lipid Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D058226:Plaque, Atherosclerotic / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism; D011322:Primary Prevention / Q000379:methods; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents