Study Finds High Cholesterol Not Linked to Heart Disease in Metabolically Healthy Individuals

A recent study from The Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation challenges the long-established lipid hypothesis, which posits that high cholesterol levels are a major risk factor for coronary artery disease. Conducted on 100 metabolically healthy individuals adhering to a long-term low-carbohydrate ketogenic diet, the research found no correlation between traditional cholesterol markers (ApoB and LDL-C) and heart disease progression in this group, known as Lean Mass Hyper-Responders (LMHRs). These findings suggest that the pre-existing burden of arterial plaque is a more reliable predictor of heart disease than cholesterol levels themselves. As interest in ketogenic diets grows, particularly for their benefits in managing chronic health conditions, the study calls for a reevaluation of cholesterol's role in cardiovascular risk assessment. The results highlight a potential shift towards personalized treatment strategies, advocating for further research into diet-induced high cholesterol. This study adds to the ongoing debate about dietary approaches and their implications for heart health.