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Review
. 2004 Jun 2;43(11):2142-6.
doi: 10.1016/j.jacc.2004.03.046.

Optimal low-density lipoprotein is 50 to 70 mg/dl: lower is better and physiologically normal

James H O'Keefe Jr  1 , Loren Cordain, William H Harris, Richard M Moe, Robert Vogel
Affiliations
Free article
Review

Optimal low-density lipoprotein is 50 to 70 mg/dl: lower is better and physiologically normal

James H O'Keefe Jr et al. J Am Coll Cardiol. .
Free article

Abstract

The normal low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol range is 50 to 70 mg/dl for native hunter-gatherers, healthy human neonates, free-living primates, and other wild mammals (all of whom do not develop atherosclerosis). Randomized trial data suggest atherosclerosis progression and coronary heart disease events are minimized when LDL is lowered to <70 mg/dl. No major safety concerns have surfaced in studies that lowered LDL to this range of 50 to 70 mg/dl. The current guidelines setting the target LDL at 100 to 115 mg/dl may lead to substantial undertreatment in high-risk individuals.

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Comment in

  • Optimal lipids, statins, and dementia.
    Lavie CJ, Milani RV. Lavie CJ, et al. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2005 Mar 15;45(6):963-4; author reply 964-5. doi: 10.1016/j.jacc.2004.12.019. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2005. PMID: 15766838 No abstract available.
  • The optimal low-density lipoprotein is 50 to 70 mg/dl.
    Clendenning R. Clendenning R. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2005 May 17;45(10):1732; author reply 1732. doi: 10.1016/j.jacc.2005.02.051. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2005. PMID: 15893199 No abstract available.

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