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Metabolic Mind

Cholesterol & Heart Health: Insights from LDL Research on Keto with Dave Feldman & Nick Norwitz, PhD

Sep 16, 2024
Join citizen scientist Dave Feldman, founder of the Citizen Science Foundation, and Nick Norwitz, an Oxford PhD and Harvard medical student, as they challenge traditional views on LDL cholesterol and heart health. They discuss their research on lean mass hyper-responders, revealing that LDL levels might not correlate with plaque buildup in keto dieters. The duo also highlights how advanced imaging techniques could redefine cardiovascular risk assessment, pushing for a fresh perspective on cholesterol management and dietary impacts on long-term health.
43:36

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • The study reveals that high LDL cholesterol levels in lean mass hyper responders do not correlate with increased plaque development in coronary arteries.
  • Coronary CT angiography is advocated as a superior diagnostic tool for assessing cardiovascular risk over traditional calcium scoring methods.

Deep dives

Impact of LDL Cholesterol on Plaque Development

The study reveals intriguing findings regarding LDL cholesterol levels and their relationship to coronary plaque. Despite a significant difference in average LDL levels—272 mg/dL for the lean mass hyper responders compared to 123 mg/dL for the Miami Heart cohort—there was no statistically significant difference in plaque development as measured by CT angiograms. This suggests that higher LDL levels may not correlate with increased plaque in individuals who maintain good metabolic health. The study's authors emphasize that, after almost five years in ketosis, these individuals show no signs that high LDL is causing plaque accumulation.

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