The Study
Normal LDL-Cholesterol Levels Are Associated With Subclinical Atherosclerosis in the Absence of Risk Factors.
This study shows that people with normal cholesterol levels can still have early signs of artery disease, and those with slightly higher LDL cholesterol are more likely to have these signs — even if they seem healthy. But it doesn’t prove that LDL cholesterol caused the problem; it just shows a link.
Analysis score
Maximum 72 for a cohort study.
Where the score came from
Some grown-ups who seem healthy and have normal cholesterol can still have early signs of heart disease in their blood vessels.
Where does this study sit?
Reviews of RCTs (Meta-analyses)
Max 100Randomized Trials
Max 90Reviews of Cohort Studies
Max 85Cohort Studies
Max 72Reviews of Case-Control Studies
Max 63Case-Control Studies
Max 58Cross-Sectional & Case Series
Max 50Expert Opinion
Max 548 / 100
Quality score
Groups of people are followed over time to see who develops an outcome. Strong for identifying risk factors and associations, but cannot prove causation as firmly as RCTs.
Key takeaways
Summary
Based on the study abstract and findings.
- 1Yes, this is important because it shows that even people who seem healthy should pay attention to their cholesterol and blood sugar.
- 249.7% of healthy middle-aged adults had early heart disease signs.
- 3For every 10 mg/dl increase in LDL cholesterol, the chance of having these signs went up by 14% to 18%.
Score breakdown, methodology, conflicts of interest, evidence analysis & raw study data
Publication
Journal
Journal of the American College of Cardiology
Year
2017
Authors
L. Fernández-Friera, V. Fuster, B. López-Melgar, B. Oliva, J. M. García-Ruíz, J. Mendiguren, H. Bueno, S. Pocock, B. Ibáñez, A. Fernández-Ortiz, J. Sanz
Related Content
Claims (6)
Even if your blood sugar isn’t high enough to be diagnosed with a problem, it might still be quietly harming your blood vessels as you get older.
Even if your heart looks healthy and you have no major risk factors, higher 'bad' cholesterol (LDL) — even when it's considered 'normal' — is linked to more hidden artery buildup. For every 10-point rise in LDL, the odds go up by about 15%.
Even if you're a middle-aged adult with normal cholesterol and no obvious heart disease risks, there's almost a 50% chance you already have early signs of heart disease, like buildup in your arteries.
Even if middle-aged guys and gals have no obvious heart risks, men and older people are more likely to have hidden artery buildup — and so are those with higher 'bad' cholesterol.
Even if you feel fine, your arteries might start building up plaque when your 'bad' cholesterol (LDL) hits around 50 to 60 mg/dL, and the more LDL you have, the more plaque builds up — steadily and predictably.
Subclinical atherosclerosis develops in a linear relationship with LDL cholesterol levels, with plaque accumulation beginning at approximately 50–60 mg/dL, even in asymptomatic individuals without traditional risk factors.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.