Q. I’m 66, 6 feet tall, weigh 220 pounds and am in good health. A year ago, my labs showed a total cholesterol of 188 while using Vytorin. This is close to my average cholesterol reading for five years.
My most recent physical showed total cholesterol is 120 (a 36 percent drop!), with LDL at 49 and HDL at 56. I was stunned by the improvement.
The only thing I’ve done differently is take a dietary supplement called resveratrol. Could it be the cause? And is a total cholesterol value of 120 too low?
A. Animal research suggests that the antioxidant in grapes and red wine, resveratrol, can lower cholesterol levels (Biochemical and Biophysical Research, online, December 31, 2007). It is conceivable that adding resveratrol to Vytorin accounts for your very low lipid levels.
Although many doctors believe cholesterol can never get too low, this issue has been controversial for years. One study has suggested there is a link between low LDL cholesterol and Parkinson’s disease (Movement Disorders, Feb. 15, 2007). Scientists have also reported that people with naturally low cholesterol may have problems with concentration and word fluency (Psychosomatic Medicine, Jan/Feb, 2005).
More recently researchers have reported that aggressive cholesterol-lowering treatment with Lipitor might increase the risk of brain hemorrhage in patients who had previously suffered a stroke or transient ischemic attack (Neurology, Dec. 12, 2007, Online).
We are sending you our Guide to Cholesterol and Heart Health, which discusses the importance of good HDL and the hazards associated with very low cholesterol. It can be downloaded for $2 from this Web site.
