Should You Take a Statin if Your LDL is High on a Low-Carb Diet?
Dr. Kumar’s Take:
This study challenges the long-held belief that LDL-C (low-density lipoprotein cholesterol) is always harmful. The authors argue that in the context of a low-carbohydrate diet (LCD), high LDL-C may not be a sign of increased cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. Instead, they suggest looking at other markers—such as insulin resistance, triglyceride-to-HDL ratio, and coronary artery calcium (CAC) score—before deciding whether statins are necessary.
For those on an low carbohydrate diet with high LDL-C but otherwise good metabolic markers (low triglycerides, high HDL), this study suggests that statins may not provide the same benefits as they do for those with high LDL-C caused by poor diet and metabolic disease.