Elevated cholesterol level promotes severe visual impairment

Is there a link between HDL cholesterol and macular degeneration?

The so-called age-related macular degeneration, can cause severe visual impairment in people over the age of 40 years. Researchers have now found that so-called healthy HDL cholesterol can increase the risk of serious eye disease.

The researchers from the University of Queensland found in their recent study that HDL cholesterol increases the risk of macular degeneration (group of retinal diseases of the eye). The physicians published the results of their study in the journal "Nature Communications".

Researchers analyze the data of about 400,000 subjects

In their study, the experts examined the relationships between mutable health risks and common diseases. For this they evaluated the data from various large-scale studies, which included about 400,000 subjects. The researchers found that HDL cholesterol increases the risk of eye disease.

Investigation of disease risk

The researchers evaluated seven modifiable health determinants such as body mass index (BMI) and cholesterol and their associations with 30 common diseases such as heart disease and type 2 diabetes. The study found that a particular type of cholesterol is a potential risk factor for age-related macular degeneration, explains author Professor Jian Yang of the University of Queensland.

HDL cholesterol protects human health?

It used to be thought that HDL cholesterol is good for the health and protects the heart, explains the study author. The new results, however, have shown that it has a rather negative effect, adds Professor Yang. Some people take medications or supplements to increase their HDL cholesterol levels. However, the results of the study clearly show that HDL has no real protective effect and high levels of HDL cholesterol also seem to increase the risk of developing age-related macular degeneration, says the physician.

LDL cholesterol protects against type 2 diabetes

The findings also point to the potential side effects of drugs that target cholesterol to reduce the likelihood of heart attack, adds Professor Yang. People used to think that so-called LDL cholesterol is a risk factor for a heart attack and the results have confirmed that. But it also provides protection against type 2 diabetes, explain the researchers. Thus, if a drug is developed that lowers LDL levels to reduce the risk of heart disease, it also increases the risk of Type 2 diabetes. If people take medicines to lower their LDL cholesterol, it will have the side effect that they may develop type 2 diabetes.

Results suggest new targets for future investigations

The study found 45 potentially causal relationships between health risk factors and disease, with some already identified in previous studies. Some of these relationships, such as the association between BMI and type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, have been demonstrated in randomized controlled trials, confirming the methods of the current study, says author Yang. Other correlations identified in this study provide a target for future studies and extend the basic knowledge to better understand various diseases, the study authors conclude. (As)