cholesterol

[rondeau]

Can cholesterol be too low? After two months on Atorvostatin my Dad's cholesterol reading has dropped from 5.2 to 2.1. Seems drastic.

[Sqad]

In my experience, this is a very rare situation and i cannot see any situation that a total blood cholesterol would slide down the scale and disappear completely.

You dad need not worry as although 2.1 IS low it is not the "end of the world."

Lazygun and slaney are two ABers who seem to be academic rather than clinicians and would give a fuller answer.

[LazyGun]

UK normal range for Total Cholesterol is between 3.5-6.5 mmol/L, with an idealised target value of no more than 5.0mmol/L, dropping to 4.0mmol/L in those patients either have or are at high risk of coronary artery disease.

Still some debate over what is the most important measure - many think that it is less that actual levels and more the relative ratios of LDL to HDL and overall total that is the most important indicator.

Like Sqad, I find it difficult to see that the statin therapy has been so dramatic in its effects. A couple of things spring to mind - either a mistake in measurement, or possibly the 5.2 reading being the total cholesterol, whilst the second result, the 2.1 is a measure of the LDL, so in other words, not really comparing like with like. Since i like to get stuff clear, i would seek some clarification as to what the 2.1 was actually a measure of - Total Cholesterol or LDL ?