Comments on: Does cholesterol play a beneficial role in immunity?

By: Relentless Roger

Relentless Roger — Thu, 30 May 2013 21:24:00 +0000

[…] Talk about how cholesterol enhances your immunity […]

By: Podcast 42: Paleo Pronunciation - Caveman Doctor

Podcast 42: Paleo Pronunciation - Caveman Doctor — Sun, 12 May 2013 14:06:09 +0000

[…] Cholesterol enhances your immunity […]

By: Tony Mach

Tony Mach — Sun, 05 May 2013 18:41:52 +0000

Surely an interesting result in this TB study. Eat animal products, help your immune system!

And I would not be the slightest bit surprised if cholesterol in the human body plays some sort of role in the immune system – I harbor some suspicion about that myself. And I think accepted wisdom now is that *dietary* cholesterol is a bogey man from the last century…

But in this TB study it could have been the animal protein, it could have been the fatty acid composition (e.g. the eicosanoids DHA+DPA+AA), it could have been the immunoglobulins (in butter and eggs), …

Based on the TB study anything beyond “consumption of animal products is beneficial for you immune system” is speculative, I fear – so nothing to see here about cholesterol, dietary or otherwise.

By: Maureen Goodin

Maureen Goodin — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 09:37:55 +0000

Were found to be significantly less prone to death after injection with bacteria compared to mice with lower cholesterol levels

By: Latest Heart & Cholesterol News | April 29, 2013 - Corazonas

Latest Heart & Cholesterol News | April 29, 2013 - Corazonas — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 19:57:04 +0000

[…] Does Cholesterol Play Beneficial Role In Immunity? […]

By: Colin williams

Colin williams — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 08:15:49 +0000

Antoher great article, informative and thought provoking. Just as a thought, rembering I’m not a clinician I just have to manage GPs for my sins!, but with the evidence from the TB trial you quote being so significant, I was wondering could its principles be beneficial in the fight against Chest infection with Cystis Fibrosis patients? I have an interest in this area as I lost my beloved daughter to CF 5 years ago at 22 yrs old.

By: William L. Wilson, M.D.

William L. Wilson, M.D. — Sun, 28 Apr 2013 12:06:12 +0000

I tend to eat a low carb, moderate protein, high fat (healthy fats) diet. I recently had my lab done and my total cholesterol is well over 200 and my LDL is in the mid-100’s, much higher than recommended. My HDL cholesterol was in the 30’s before I changed my diet but it is now 70. My triglycerides are also low. My CRP is low and in my 60’s I have no obvious health problems.

My PCP keeps wanting to put me on a statin. No thanks! I haven’t had a cold or flu in decades despite the fact that I am exposed to these diseases every day. It’s unfortunate that many in the medical profession look at cholesterol numbers totally out of context.

By: Martin

Martin — Sun, 28 Apr 2013 04:41:12 +0000

Just an observation: during a period of excessive cholesterol numbers (over 300) I experienced zero flu the whole autumn/winter/spring season. As soon as I managed to reduced the number I got sick.

By: Shirley Bright

Shirley Bright — Sat, 27 Apr 2013 15:54:09 +0000

Many thanks to Sue Bedford for bringing the film to my attention. I would urge EVERYONE to watch it. It lasts for over an hour, so be prepared to spend the time, but it is so WORTH EVERY MINUTE.

By: Susan Wallace

Susan Wallace — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 18:05:42 +0000

Thank you yet another fascinating blog, Dr Briffa.

I would like to support Galina’s account of how TB used to be treated. My mother was diagnosed with TB in the 1930s and was sent away for country air and a “rich” diet of eggs, butter, cream, cheese, meat etc. (no antibiotics then!) She was quickly and completely cured.

When I was at school in the 50s, a classmate contracted TB and was away for a while. When she returned she looked very healthy, although she was a bit plumper (she lost this extra weight over time) which she told us was because she was given “lots of fatty foods”. She too remained completely free of TB from then on.

By: Sue Bedford RGN

Sue Bedford RGN — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 16:26:10 +0000

A film called “Statin Nation: The Great Cholesterol Cover Up” has recently been produced and is currently available to view for free on YouTube – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZctVYxiW2w. If anyone believes cholesterol is the cause of heart disease by the end of that film, their brains must be starved of cholesterol!

By: Galina L.

Galina L. — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 12:05:26 +0000

Right after the end of World War II my mom’s aunt’s new husband was diagnosed with TB. There were a shortage of food then and that family sold all material things they had in order to buy on a black market eggs, butter and salted pork fat for the man because it was a common knowledge that TB patients needed the diet high in nutrition, and back then people didn’t think fruits and vegetables were very nutritious, but butter , meat and eggs. His illness was cured.

By: JEYoung

JEYoung — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 11:36:21 +0000

Interesting post, thank you for these studies on adults. In the new edition of Perfect Health Diet page 366-67, the Jaminets suggest that optimal LDL cholesterol is above 100mg/dl, and total above 200mg. They cited three infant lipid studies to illustrate that lower numbers would indicate impaired immune function. There are more detailed posts on their blog about “Blood Lipids and Infectious Disease” and possible reasons for cholesterol’s immune function. So if your doctor suggests that LDL should be below 100mg, aiming to be above that number seems the better advice.

By: Cholesterol Helps The Immune System | Take Away Points

Cholesterol Helps The Immune System | Take Away Points — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 07:48:27 +0000

[…] Crux of Does cholesterol play a beneficial role in immunity? by John Briffa: […]

By: Stipetic

Stipetic — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 06:54:04 +0000

Facinating post. I knew about LDL and HDL’s antimicrobial properties, but wasn’t aware of the effect of cholesterol on TB. Truly amazing results. We need more Perez-Guzman et al investigators. Putting patient health ahead of dogma. Kudos to them.