“The higher the better” seems to be no longer true for HDL-cholesterol.

ABSTRACT

It is very well known from the old epidemiological population studies, that HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C) was in a negative association with coronary events risk. New studies have occurred during the last 10 years that the mentioned association has in fact the U-shaped curve, i.e. lower and higher levels of HDL-C then the optimal one are in an exponential increasing risk. The association of high HDL-C levels with cardiovascular risk is not explained clearly. There might be a hypothesis concerning a change of function of large HDL particles riched of cholesterol esters, which become to be cholesterol donors for the arteries. Key words cardiovascular risk - HDL-cholesterol - HDL particles.