Can your total cholesterol level be too low?

Answer From Francisco Lopez-Jimenez, M.D.

A high blood cholesterol level increases your risk of coronary artery disease. Lower cholesterol is usually better, but in rare cases having a very low level of low-density lipoprotein (LDL, or "bad") cholesterol or a very low total cholesterol level has been associated with some health problems.

Doctors are still trying to find out more about the connection between low cholesterol and health risks. There is no consensus on how to define very low LDL cholesterol, but LDL would be considered very low if it is less than 40 milligrams per deciliter of blood.

Although the risks are rare, very low levels of LDL cholesterol may be associated with an increased risk of:

  • Cancer
  • Hemorrhagic stroke
  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • Preterm birth and low birth weight if your cholesterol is low while you're pregnant

The potential risk of lowering LDL cholesterol to very low levels has not been confirmed, and its association with certain health risks is still under debate.

Recent trials using novel treatments to lower cholesterol have reached extremely low cholesterol values with no increased risk for major side effects, but the follow-up was relatively short.

In some cases it is not clear if low cholesterol causes the health problem or if it's the other way around. For example, people with depression may have low cholesterol levels, but it has not been proved that lowering cholesterol with statin therapy causes depression.

However, the benefits of lowering total and LDL cholesterol have been demonstrated extensively, particularly in individuals with heart disease or at high risk of heart disease or strokes.

If you're concerned about your cholesterol level, consult your doctor. If you're taking statins, don't stop without first consulting your doctor. He or she can determine the cholesterol range most appropriate for you.

With

Francisco Lopez-Jimenez, M.D.

From Mayo Clinic to your inbox

Sign up for free and stay up to date on research advancements, health tips, current health topics, and expertise on managing health. Click here for an email preview.

To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information, and understand which information is beneficial, we may combine your email and website usage information with other information we have about you. If you are a Mayo Clinic patient, this could include protected health information. If we combine this information with your protected health information, we will treat all of that information as protected health information and will only use or disclose that information as set forth in our notice of privacy practices. You may opt-out of email communications at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link in the e-mail.

Nov. 17, 2022 See more Expert Answers

See also

  1. Arcus senilis: A sign of high cholesterol?
  2. Birth control pill FAQ
  3. Cholesterol medications: Consider the options
  4. Cholesterol ratio or non-HDL cholesterol: Which is most important?
  5. Cholesterol test kits: Are they accurate?
  6. Cholesterol: Top foods to improve your numbers
  7. Cholesterol-lowering supplements may be helpful
  8. Coconut oil: Can it cure hypothyroidism?
  9. Congenital adrenal hyperplasia
  10. Prickly pear cactus
  11. Eggs and cholesterol
  12. Fasting diet: Can it improve my heart health?
  13. Hashimoto's disease
  14. HDL cholesterol: How to boost your 'good' cholesterol
  15. Herbal supplements and heart drugs
  16. High cholesterol
  17. High cholesterol in children
  18. High cholesterol treatment: Does cinnamon lower cholesterol?
  19. Hypothyroidism: Can calcium supplements interfere with treatment?
  20. Hypothyroidism diet
  21. Hypothyroidism and joint pain?
  22. Hypothyroidism: Should I take iodine supplements?
  23. Hypothyroidism symptoms: Can hypothyroidism cause eye problems?
  24. Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid)
  25. Lowering Triglycerides
  26. Menus for heart-healthy eating
  27. Metabolic syndrome
  28. Niacin overdose: What are the symptoms?
  29. Niacin to improve cholesterol numbers
  30. Nuts and your heart: Eating nuts for heart health
  31. Is there a risk of rhabdomyolysis from statins?
  32. Soy: Does it reduce cholesterol?
  33. Soy: Does it worsen hypothyroidism?
  34. Statin side effects
  35. Statins
  36. Statins: Do they cause ALS?
  37. Lifestyle changes to improve cholesterol
  38. Trans fat
  39. Triglycerides: Why do they matter?
  40. VLDL cholesterol: Is it harmful?
  41. Mayo Clinic Minute: Out of shape kids and diabetes
  42. Mayo Clinic Minute: Weight loss surgery for kids