- Low cholesterol levels are associated with increased mortality risk in older adults, challenging the “lower is better” paradigm
- Cholesterol plays crucial roles in cell membrane structure, hormone production, vitamin D synthesis and nerve function. Adequate levels are essential for optimal health, especially in older individuals
- Low cholesterol is linked to higher diabetes risk in older adults. Both very low and very high levels increase risk, with the lowest risk occurring at moderate levels
- Maintaining adequate cholesterol levels is important for brain health, particularly in post-menopausal women. Low levels may disrupt lipid rafts and myelin production, potentially affecting cognitive function
- Recent research indicates a relationship between low cholesterol and increased risk of blood cancers. Cholesterol has protective effects on immune function and regulation of cancer cell proliferation
(Mercola)—You’ve likely heard that high cholesterol is bad for your health, however cholesterol is found in nearly every cell of your body and is vital for optimal functioning. If you have too little, your risk of health problems increases, including all-cause mortality.
Research published in Frontiers in Endocrinology found a revealing link between low total cholesterol (TC) levels and increased mortality risk in those aged 85 and above.1 This research challenges the conventional dogma that lower cholesterol is always better, especially for older adults.
The study, which analyzed data from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey, found that individuals with TC levels below 3.40 mmol/L (131 mg/dL) had a significantly higher risk of all-cause mortality compared to those with higher levels.2 In fact, the mortality risk increased by 12% for every 1 mmol/L reduction in TC.3 These findings suggest that maintaining higher cholesterol levels may benefit longevity in your later years.
Why Low Cholesterol Is Harmful in Late Life
Cholesterol, often misunderstood as merely harmful, plays several crucial roles in maintaining bodily functions. This waxy substance serves as a fundamental building block for cell membranes, providing structural integrity and fluidity. It acts as a precursor for various essential hormones and is vital in the production of vitamin D when your skin is exposed to sunlight, contributing to bone health and immune function.
In your digestive system, cholesterol aids in the formation of bile acids, which are necessary for the absorption of fats and fat-soluble vitamins. Further, cholesterol is integral to myelin sheath formation, enhancing nerve signal transmission throughout your body. A balanced amount of cholesterol is indispensable for optimal health and plays a protective role as you age.
As for why low cholesterol increases risk of all-cause mortality in older adults, low TC levels may compromise cell function and increase your vulnerability to infections and other health problems. Additionally, cholesterol helps regulate inflammatory markers in your body. With lower TC levels, you might experience enhanced inflammation, which is associated with numerous age-related diseases.
The study found the protective effect of higher cholesterol is independent of nutritional status or chronic health conditions, suggesting a direct biological link between TC levels and longevity in advanced age. The researchers explained:4
“Although the biological pathways that link TC to mortality are poorly understood, several mechanisms may explain this inverse association. For example, blood lipids, which are an important component of cell membranes, may affect cell electrophysiology by modulating the distribution and function of some ion channels.
Low TC levels may contribute to the pathogenesis of some common diseases in older people, such as atrial fibrillation. Another potential mechanism is that TC may regulate inflammatory markers such as C-reactive protein and attenuate the biological response to inflammation. Therefore, individuals with low TC levels may be more vulnerable to physiological disorders because of enhanced inflammation.”
The study identified an optimal range for TC levels in those aged 85 years and over. Participants with TC levels between 3.40 and 4.39 mmol/L (131 to 170 mg/dL) and those with levels at or above 4.39 mmol/L (170 mg/dL) had significantly lower mortality risks compared to those with levels below 3.40 mmol/L.5
“Our findings contribute to the growing body of evidence challenging the ‘lower is better’ paradigm for cholesterol levels in older adults,” the researchers noted, proposing that the optimal TC range for older adults might lie between 3.40 and 5.18 mmol/L (131 to 200 mg/dL).6
Low Cholesterol Linked to Increased Diabetes Risk
Another important study of 3.26 million Chinese adults aged 65 and older also revealed the importance of properly optimizing your cholesterol. It found low cholesterol levels are associated with a higher risk of diabetes.7
The researchers observed a J-shaped relationship between total cholesterol and diabetes risk. This means that both very low and very high cholesterol levels were associated with increased diabetes risk, with the lowest risk occurring at moderate levels. Specifically, TC levels below 4.04 mmol/L (156 mg/dL) were linked to higher diabetes odds. This “cholesterol paradox” could further explain why low cholesterol contributes to increased mortality in late life.
The findings even held true for low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, often labeled as the “bad” cholesterol. The study found a similar J-shaped relationship between LDL cholesterol levels and diabetes risk. LDL cholesterol levels below 2.33 mmol/L (90 mg/dL) were associated with higher diabetes odds. For every 1 mmol/L increase in LDL cholesterol below this threshold, there was a 12% decrease in diabetes risk.8
This again challenges the “lower is better” approach to LDL management, especially for older adults. The protective effect of moderately higher LDL cholesterol levels could be another piece of the puzzle in understanding increased late-life mortality associated with low cholesterol — your body needs a certain level of LDL cholesterol for optimal health throughout life, including in your later years.
The Protective Role of Cholesterol in Brain Health
Maintaining adequate cholesterol levels is also crucial for your brain health, especially as you age. Cholesterol plays a vital role in the production and maintenance of cell membranes in your brain and is essential for the formation of lipid rafts, specialized regions in cell membranes that are crucial for synaptic function and plasticity.9
These processes are fundamental for learning and memory. When your cholesterol levels are too low, it can disrupt these lipid rafts, potentially affecting your memory consolidation and cognitive function. Additionally, cholesterol is necessary for myelin production, the protective sheath around nerve fibers that enables efficient signal transmission in your brain.
Low cholesterol levels might interfere with the repair and regeneration of myelin, leading to impaired information processing and potentially contributing to cognitive decline. Further, research indicates that women have a higher lifetime risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease compared to men, and cholesterol levels may play a role in this difference.
The study focused specifically on post-menopausal women, finding that those with total cholesterol levels below 153 mg/dL had a significantly higher risk of developing dementia.10 Even women with cholesterol levels above 201 mg/dL had a reduced risk of developing dementia compared to those with the lowest levels.11
This suggests that maintaining adequate cholesterol levels may be particularly important for cognitive health in post-menopausal women. The researchers explained several reasons why low cholesterol may increase dementia risk in this population:12
“In neurons, lipid rafts are … believed to be involved in synaptic function and plasticity, which are essential for learning and memory processes. Low cholesterol caused by drugs or toxins may disrupt lipid rafts, subsequently affecting memory consolidation and cognitive function and finally resulting in dementia.
In addition to lipid raft disruption, demyelination caused by low cholesterol levels might also be another important factor that interferes with the regeneration of myeline; therefore, signal (information) transformation and consolidation become disrupted.
Several factors including hyperglycemia, hypertension, toxins, infections, and many other factors that induce free radicals, oxidation, and the inflammation of myeline results in the aging process or the destruction of myelin. In this situation, a higher cholesterol level might be a rate-limited process for repairment and remyelination.
Without intact functional lipid rafts and myeline, information in the brain for conduction, consolidation, or plasticity is not possible.”
Link Between Low Cholesterol and Blood Cancer Risk Unveiled
Recent research from the UK Biobank study has also uncovered an unexpected relationship between low cholesterol levels and an increased risk of plasma cell neoplasms, including multiple myeloma.13
This large-scale study followed 502,507 participants for up to 14 years, revealing that individuals with lower levels of total cholesterol, LDL, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and apolipoproteins had a higher likelihood of developing these blood cancers.14 While the exact mechanisms are not fully understood, this research points to the complex role of cholesterol in cellular health and immune function.
In the context of blood cancers, cholesterol appears to have protective effects. Higher levels of HDL and its associated apolipoprotein A have been linked to reduced inflammation and improved immune cell function. These lipids can regulate cancer cell proliferation and modify the function of macrophages and other immune cells.15
Additionally, cholesterol is crucial for the homeostasis of your hematopoietic system, which produces blood cells. The study suggests that very low cholesterol levels might disrupt this delicate balance, potentially increasing the risk of malignant transformations in plasma cells.16
The study found that the relationship between cholesterol and plasma cell neoplasms was particularly pronounced in males and individuals over 60 years old. The use of cholesterol-lowering medications didn’t reduce the risk of these blood cancers, suggesting that artificially lowering cholesterol levels does not provide the same protective effects as naturally occurring higher levels.
Statin cholesterol-lowering medications are among the most-prescribed drugs in the U.S., but the number of people taking them may soon decline significantly. Based on previous guidelines, 45.4 million adults meet the criteria to take statin drugs, but if updated guidelines from the American Heart Association are adopted, this will drop to 28.3 million.17
Optimizing Cholesterol Levels for Overall Health
Maintaining optimal cholesterol levels involves more than just focusing on the numbers. Your gut health plays a significant role in this complex equation. Oxygen-intolerant bacteria, which thrive in an oxygen-free gut environment, are vital for converting plant fibers into beneficial fats. However, modern lifestyle factors can disrupt this delicate balance, potentially leading to a shift toward oxygen-tolerant bacteria that produce more potent endotoxins.
This shift can have far-reaching implications for your health. Endotoxemia, often resulting from this bacterial imbalance, is a significant underlying cause of septic shock — a condition that may be more prevalent than commonly recognized.
In fact, it could be a leading cause of death, surpassing even heart disease and cancer in some estimations. Many cases of heart disease or heart failure might actually be triggered by endotoxemia, underscoring the interconnectedness of your gut health and cardiovascular system.
To truly optimize your cholesterol levels and overall health, it’s essential to look beyond conventional metrics and instead consider the following tests for a more comprehensive understanding of your heart disease risk:
- Omega-3 index
- HDL/total cholesterol ratio
- Fasting insulin level
- Fasting blood sugar level
- Triglyceride/HDL ratio
- Iron level
This personalized approach, combined with strategies to improve mitochondrial function and maintain a healthy gut ecosystem, offers a more holistic path to cardiovascular health. By addressing these underlying factors, you can naturally optimize your cholesterol levels while supporting your overall well-being.
- 1, 2, 3, 5 Front. Endocrinol, 12 June 2024
- 4, 6 Front. Endocrinol, 12 June 2024, Discussion
- 7, 8 Lipids Health Dis. 2024; 23: 167
- 9, 10, 11 Nutrients. 2023 Oct; 15(20): 4481
- 12 Nutrients. 2023 Oct; 15(20): 4481, Discussion
- 13, 14 Cancer Med. 2023 Nov; 12(22): 20964–20975
- 15, 16 Cancer Med. 2023 Nov; 12(22): 20964–20975, Discussion
- 17 JAMA Internal Medicine June 10, 2024
Two Storms, One Harvest
Every food crisis in living memory has been a one-shock event. The 2008 price spike was a commodity bubble. The 2020 shortages were a logistics failure. The 2022 grain scare was a war on one exporter’s ports. Each time, the system bent, adjusted, and recovered, and each time the experts assured us afterward that global markets are simply too big and too diversified to fail.
What nobody in Washington seems eager to discuss is that 2026 is shaping up to be something the modern food system has never actually faced. Two independent shocks, one climatic and one geopolitical, are converging on the same harvest cycle at the same time. Not sequentially. Simultaneously.
Start with the weather. The Pacific Ocean is currently building toward what forecasters now openly call a record event. NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center puts the odds of at least a strong El Niño near 88 percent, with roughly two in three odds it reaches “very strong” status, the tier reserved for perhaps three or four events in the entire satellite era. Every major global model now projects a median peak in Super El Niño territory, and most of them project it exceeding the 2015-16 event, which until now held the modern record. Sea surface anomalies were already brushing the super threshold in mid-July, months before these events normally peak. The atmosphere has already shifted into El Niño mode, and the event is forecast to crest in late fall and early winter.
This is not about “climate change.” It’s about the standard cycles of weather, and the cycle we’re currently in is one that has likely devastated societies in the past. We’re better prepared as a society today, but not all Americans are equally prepared.
Serious households have started doing the quiet math on their own. Grocery bills tell part of the story, and the forecast maps tell the rest, which is why long-term food storage has moved from fringe hobby to mainstream line item in the family budget, with established suppliers like Heaven’s Harvest seeing demand from people who five years ago would have rolled their eyes at the idea. That instinct is not paranoia. It is pattern recognition, and the pattern is worth walking through carefully.
Editor’s Note: Heaven’s Harvest IS a sponsor, but the warnings of this article are real and would be written even if we didn’t have a survival food sponsor. With that said, those who take advantage of what they offer can use promo code “Patriot” for 15% off.
The Fertilizer Clock Is Already Running
While the Pacific warms, the second shock has been unfolding in the Strait of Hormuz. The conflict with Iran turned the world’s most important energy chokepoint into a contested waterway, and the consequences reach far beyond the gas pump. Roughly a third of global fertilizer trade moves through Hormuz, and the disruption sent urea prices up 86 percent year over year by March, with a 53 percent jump in a single month.
The World Bank projects energy prices rising about 24 percent in 2026 and fertilizer about 31 percent. By its own accounting, fertilizer prices ran 35 percent higher in the first five months of this year than the same period last year.
Here is the mechanism the nightly news will not explain. Fertilizer is not a grocery item. It is a time-delayed input. The nitrogen a farmer in Iowa or Punjab could not afford to apply this spring does not show up as a problem this spring. It shows up as a thinner harvest six to twelve months later.
The World Bank’s own food security brief concedes that the effects of reduced applications earlier this season “are likely to become visible only later in harvest outcomes.” Translate that from institutional language into plain English and it means this. The damage is already done, it is already in the ground, and we are simply waiting for it to arrive on the shelf.
Now check the calendar. Six to twelve months from the spring planting season lands us squarely in late 2026 and early 2027. Which is precisely when the strongest El Niño in the instrumental record is forecast to peak, bringing its signature droughts to Southeast Asia, Australia, southern Africa, northern Brazil, and South Asia, the very regions that grow the world’s rice, sugar, and oilseeds.
The World Bank warns openly that a strong El Niño “could disrupt multiple crop belts simultaneously” on top of the conflict-driven input costs. Their baseline projection assumes the Middle East disruptions ease by autumn. What in the last two years of Middle East history suggests that assumption is safe?
The System Has No Slack Left
The comfortable answer is that global markets always adjust. But adjustment requires slack, and the slack is gone. Global cereal production is expected to decline from last year’s records even before El Niño does its work. The UN World Food Programme, hardly a den of right-wing preppers, is calling this the most significant disruption to its supply chains since Covid and the invasion of Ukraine, and its supply chain director put the stakes bluntly.
Today’s supply chain challenges are tomorrow’s hunger crisis.
There is also a political dimension that markets cannot price. When food gets scarce, governments do not behave like economists. They behave like politicians. Export bans, hoarding mandates, and panic buying at the national level turned the modest rice shortfall of 2008 into a global crisis, and analysts are already warning that import-dependent nations are the first dominoes.
The 2015-16 Super El Niño, a far weaker event than what is now forecast, threw tens of millions into food stress across Africa and Asia. This one is projected to be stronger, and it arrives with fertilizer already rationed by price and shipping lanes already contested by missiles.
What Joseph Knew
Scripture does not treat preparation for lean years as faithlessness. It treats it as wisdom delivered in advance to those willing to act on it.
Behold, there come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt: And there shall arise after them seven years of famine; and all the plenty shall be forgotten in the land of Egypt.
Joseph did not respond to that warning with a hashtag or a committee. He stored grain during the years of abundance, and when the famine came, Egypt stood while its neighbors begged. The lesson is not that famine is certain. It is that the time to prepare is precisely when preparation still looks optional.
Nobody who filled a pantry in a year of plenty has ever regretted it, and nobody standing in an empty aisle has ever been glad he waited for certainty.
None of this calls for panic, and panic is the enemy of sound judgment anyway. It calls for the same unglamorous prudence our grandparents considered ordinary. Keep some cash margin, know your local growers, and put real food in deep storage while it is cheap and available, because the entire arc of this story is that cheap and available is a closing window.
Families looking for a straightforward place to start can visit Heaven’s Harvest and use promo code Patriot for 15 percent off long-term storable food. The forecasts may yet soften, the strait may yet reopen, and we should pray they do. But hope is a fine thing to hold and a foolish thing to eat.
