The Vital Role of Cholesterol in Health

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The Vital Role of Cholesterol in Health

Wednesday, October 08, 2008

Byron s, CCN

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A significant new discovery about the importance of cholesterol to nerve and

muscle health has just been made. The researchers discovered that

cholesterol is vital to the structure of key proteins involved with nerve

transmission. The finding is groundbreaking, its implications in the

context of widespread high doses of statin drugs in the general population

is alarming.

We have known for a very long time that small fragments of cholesterol (not

HDL or LDL, which are large transport vehicles) are required for every cell

in your body to have a three dimensional structure. Scientists estimate

that you have around 6-8 ounces of this structural cholesterol in your

cells, and without it you would be flat as a pancake on the floor.

Nerve cells are known to have higher amounts of this type of cholesterol, as

nerve cells do not split and divide like other cells and so need the extra

cholesterol to liver longer. One of the very adverse side effects of statin

drugs to lower LDL cholesterol, especially when given in the now commonly

used high doses, is that the important cholesterol in cell membranes is

lowered. In the case of nerves this results in early onset nerve death,

poor function, depression, nerve symptoms, and suicide. Such nerve symptoms

will be progressive and worsen as time goes along, especially when the dose

of a statin is raised.

In the case of muscles, various mechanisms of statin toxicity have now been

identified. These factors reduce energy, muscle health, fitness, and

generally make it harder to be healthy.

The new study adds a brand new explanation for nerve and muscle related

problems from taking statins. Researchers studied the structure of a common

and important neurotransmitter receptor called the nicotinic acetylcholine

receptor. Problems with this receptor's function drastically alter nerve

transmission. Such difficulties are found in chronic inflammation,

Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, schizophrenia, epilepsy, and

addiction issues (alcohol, nicotine and cocaine).

The new discovery is that cholesterol fragments are absolutely vital to this

receptor working correctly and are part of the protein structure of this

receptor. This is a sweeping scientific discovery. It immediately offers a

new explanation as to why statins have so many devastating nerve and muscle

side effects. It also adds clarity to the issue as to why low cholestereol

causes cancer and early risk for death.

Cholesterol is vital to the healthy function of your body, actually core to

survival. You want good levels of HDL and LDL because you are healthy, not

because you have drugged them to look better on paper. The idea of

cholesterol fitness, like physical fitness, is a proper way to look at this

issue.