High-density lipoprotein cholesterol and coronary heart disease in hypercholesterolemic men: the Lipid Research Clinics Coronary Primary Prevention Trial.

Abstract

Plasma levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) at entry and subsequent changes from these baseline levels were inversely predictive of coronary heart disease (CHD) end points in hypercholesterolemic men followed for 7 to 10 years in the Lipid Research Clinics Coronary Primary Prevention Trial, especially in the 1907 participants receiving cholestyramine. When the men in this cohort were compared, each 1 mg/dl increment in baseline HDL-C (mean 44.3 mg/dl) was associated with a 5.5% decrement in risk of "definite" CHD death or myocardial infarction (Z = -5.4), and each 1 mg/dl increase from baseline HDL-C levels (mean increase = 1.6 mg/dl) during the trial was associated with a 4.4% risk reduction (Z = -2.2). In the 1899 participants receiving placebo, the corresponding risk decrements were 3.4% and 1.1%. Although baseline HDL-C level (mean = 44.4 mg/dl) remained a significant risk predictor (Z = -3.8) in the placebo cohort, increases in HDL-C (mean increase 0.5 mg/dl) were not significantly predictive of CHD (Z = -0.6) unless "suspect" as well as "definite" end points were analyzed (Z = -2.0). When the associations between HDL-C (baseline plus change) and incidence of definite CHD end points within each treatment cohort were compared, their difference approached nominal significance (Z = 1. 9). The results suggest a synergistic interaction, in which cholestyramine treatment reduced CHD risk most substantially in men maintaining the highest HDL-C levels.

Optimizing cardiovascular risk reduction during antihypertensive therapy.

“…19 A subsequent report from this same study demonstrated a 5.5% reduction in coronary events for every 1 mg/dl increase in HDL cholesterol. 20 This was confirmed in the Helsinki heart study as well. 21 Two recent studies have demonstrated …”

Pistachio Intake Increases High Density Lipoprotein Levels and Inhibits Low-Density Lipoprotein Oxidation in Rats

“…Epidemiologic studies and studies in animals suggest that raising the levels of HDL cholesterol may retard the development of atherosclerosis. In humans, each increase in baseline HDL cholesterol of 1 mg per deciliter (0.03 mmol/l) is associated with 6 percent decrease in the risk of death from coronary disease or myocardial infarction (Gordon et al 1986). Data from large-scale clinical trials with statins and fibrates indicate that observed clinical benefits are related, at least in part, to improvements in HDL cholesterol levels.…”

Thematic review series: The Immune System and Atherogenesis. Lipoprotein-associated inflammatory proteins: markers or mediators of cardiovascular disease?

“…Numerous population studies have demonstrated an inverse relationship between plasma HDL levels and cardiovascular disease risk, establishing low HDL levels as a strong independent marker for atherosclerosis (192)(193)(194). Both the hepatic production rate and peripheral catabolism of apoA-I can influence plasma levels of HDL, and it is unclear to what extent these two different mechanisms contribute to low HDL levels during inflammation.…”