Study Refutes Bad Cholesterol Stereotype

COLLEGE STATION, TexasNew research out of Texas A&M University suggests bad cholesterol" (LDL) may not be as bad as previously thought and may help build muscle mass in physically active adults.

The researchers examined 52 healthy adults ranging in age from 60 to 69 years who were not physically active or participating in a training program. After fairly vigorous workouts, the researchers found participants who had gained the most muscle mass also had the highest levels of LDL cholesterol.

It shows that you do need a certain amount of LDL to gain more muscle mass. Theres no doubt you need boththe LDL and the HDLand the truth is, it (cholesterol) is all good. You simply cant remove all the bad cholesterol from your body without serious problems occurring," they said.

The researchers noted everyone needs a certain amount of both LDL and HDL in their bodies and suggested changing the negative stereotype toward LDL.

Our tissues need cholesterol, and LDL delivers it," he notes.  HDL, the good cholesterol, cleans up after the repair is done. And the more LDL you have in your blood, the better you are able to build muscle during resistance training."

The findings may prove helpful in looking at a condition called sarcopenia, which is muscle loss due to aging. Previous studies show muscle is usually lost at a rate of 5 percent per decade after the age of 40, After age of 60, the prevalence of moderate to severe sarcopenia is found in about 65 percent of all men and about 30 percent of all women, and it accounts for more than $18  billion of health care costs in the United States.