The Claim
In asymptomatic middle-aged adults in the United States who are at low cardiovascular risk, higher levels of LDL-cholesterol are positively associated with the presence of any coronary plaque and noncalcified coronary plaque, with the prevalence of any plaque increasing from 17.9% to 45.2% and noncalcified plaque increasing from 12.8% to 23.8% as LDL-cholesterol levels rise.
What the research says
Supports is higher
Support is ahead, but a single strong opposing study can change this.
These are independent scores, not a percentage. Higher-grade studies count more, so a single strong opposing study can outweigh several weaker ones.
In healthy-looking middle-aged Americans with low heart disease risk, higher 'bad' cholesterol is linked to more buildup in heart arteries — and the more cholesterol, the more common these buildups are.
See the scientific wording
In asymptomatic middle-aged U.S. adults, there is a positive association between LDL-cholesterol levels and the presence of any coronary plaque or noncalcified plaque within the low cardiovascular risk group, with plaque prevalence increasing from 17.9% to 45.2% for any plaque and from 12.8% to 23.8% for noncalcified plaque as LDL-C rises.
What the research says
1 studyThe study looked at cholesterol levels and heart artery plaque in healthy middle-aged people and found that higher 'bad' cholesterol is linked to more plaque, just like the claim says.
Score breakdown, mechanism chain, raw evidence, ideal studies needed & 1 supporting studies
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.