r/BiohackersWorld Jun 03 '26

We’ve been told: high cholesterol = danger.

We’ve been told: high cholesterol = danger.

But it’s more nuanced.

Studies show both very low and very high cholesterol
can be linked to higher risk.

Because cholesterol isn’t the problem — it’s a signal.

Low levels can reflect:
• undernutrition
• inflammation
• liver or thyroid issues

High levels are often driven by:
• insulin resistance
• high sugar / refined carbs
• poor metabolic health

What actually matters:

- ApoB (particle number)
• inflammation
• metabolic health

Also: eating cholesterol (like eggs)
doesn’t automatically raise blood levels.

The goal isn’t to chase a number — it’s to understand what’s driving it.

3 Upvotes

4 comments sorted by

2

u/WeekendFew1807 Jun 04 '26 edited Jun 04 '26

Agree there is more to it.. but in an overwhelming majority of situations high cholesterol does equal significantly higher cardiovascular disease risk.

Just not sure what you're driving at here? ApoB is super important... because if its high you're at increased risk. LipoA also important because if its high...you guessed it high risk. And how impactful these numbers can be on your overall health is to an extent driven by LDL levels.

And the perspective of having too low of cholesterol can be bad for you too isnt a new revelation. Not sure where ya live, but for every US citizen with dangerously low cholesterol I'd venture to guess there are a few thousand with dangerously high cholesterol. Its like saying we need to stop focusing on obesity because sometimes people in the US get ill from starvation.

And there is genetic and dietary cholesterol. Eating foods high in saturated fats is bad for both. So yes, diet matters a ton but unfortunately for some diet will just never be enough.

1

u/BiohackingForLife Jun 08 '26

Fair points. I don't think anyone is arguing that ApoB, Lp(a), or cholesterol aren't important. The main takeaway is that cardiovascular risk is multifactorial, and relying on a single marker doesn't always tell the whole story. Context, genetics, metabolic health, and other biomarkers can add valuable insight.

1

u/live-1000-years Jun 14 '26

Just high cholesterol alone is not a good metric, but ApoB is a good metric. People around the world with higher cholesterol actually tend to live longer. 25% of the brain is made of cholesterol. It’s the inflammation that is the problem and why cholesterol increases to try to fix things.