how low is too low?

[Tobias]

I am a 62-yr-old female who began taking a statin 2 years ago after dietary changes over a period of about a year took TC from 277 to 251 and LDL from 187 to 175.

7 weeks ago I switched from 40mg pravachol to 10 mg lipitor (switch was made for insurance reasons). As I expected, my LDL went down from 123 to 110. HDL went up from 59 to 65, Total down from 193 to 186. My Trigs. are now 53. This seems very low to me. The number was 104 before I started statins so it wasn't that high to begin with. What do such low Trig readings mean? The next time I have a lipid panel I will note that reading again and plan to ask my physician also.

Any wisdom here on the topic?

[ARIZONA73]

Tobias,

Your numbers look pretty good to me. When you say "to low", I assume you are referring to the triglycerides? If so, I wouldn't concern myself. The lower your triglycerides, the better. It's really best to keep triglycerides under 100 if possible. High triglycerides often correlate with a high carbohydrate diet. Restricting high glycemic carbs such as starches, sugar, and white flour products usually result in lower triglycerides.

[Lenin]

I can't imagine there is any amount of circulating fats in the blood serum that could ever be deemed TOO LOW.
Tobias, how nice to read that extra 10% hike in HDL from switching from Pravachol to Lipitor. I have a hunch that atorvastatin is the best of the group in regards HDL.

Usually, your triglycerides register more what you've eaten in the last couple days than any longterm status.

Be pleased as Punch with those numbers.

[CobaltBlue]

Originally Posted by Tobias

What do such low Trig readings mean? The next time I have a lipid panel I will note that reading again and plan to ask my physician also.

Any wisdom here on the topic?

Agreed with Arizona and Lenin. I am not as well-versed in the statins effects but the basics are that they increase removal of LDL (bad cholesterol) from your bloodstream, and one of it's other benefits is that it lowers apoB-100 (which is on LDL), but also on VLDL, which results in decreased VLDL. The VLDLs transport triglycerides to your tissues. The general tendency is that anything you do to decrease triglycerides will lower the VLDL. Also, VLDL and HDL (good cholesterol) are inversely related. So, if you lower your triglycerides, your HDL should increase. Athletes that have low body fat comps and burn off many calories through high endurance exercise will generally have low triglyceride levels.

My highest has been 638 mg/dL, years ago, when I was sedentary and obese. My lowest has been 31, and I have ranged from 34-50 mg/dL, over the past two years that I have been exercising heavily.

As Arizona said, the lower the better.

[tammylh]

I am a 45 yr. old female. I have high trigs for many years. I went off med. for financial reasons, but now I am on Tricor. My LDL's are ok, but my HLD's are low. How can I rise then? Is there any thing dietary I can do?