Can Cholesterol Be Too Low and What Can It Mean?

Most people have heard of some of the undesirable side effects of high cholesterol. But low cholesterol can also bring an increased risk for high blood pressure, a higher likelihood of heart disease, and the potential for a heart attack, strokes, and cardiovascular disease to name a few¹. To avoid those outcomes, many individuals maintain a healthy cholesterol level by establishing a healthy diet and incorporating exercise to lower cholesterol.

But if you think your cholesterol level may be dipping more than it should, you might wonder—can cholesterol be too low?

While it doesn’t occur often, it’s possible for your cholesterol levels to reach a very low number². But just because they’re low doesn’t mean you should worry for your heart health or expect unpleasant side effects to follow.

Cholesterol is an essential substance found in the body that helps make hormones, cells, and vitamin D³. Although your liver produces cholesterol on its own, you can also receive it through a variety of different foods, like oatmeal, fish, and an array of different nuts.

Cholesterol uses two types of lipoproteins to transport itself throughout your body, including:

• Low-density-lipoprotein (LDL) – Known to many as bad cholesterol, LDL contributes to plaque buildup in your arteries. If you maintain lower levels of LDL or bad cholesterol, you can lessen the likelihood of developing a heart attack, heart disease, or cardiovascular disease in the future. The ideal LDL cholesterol level is approximately 100 or less⁴.

• High-density-lipoprotein (HDL) – Often seen as the “good” cholesterol, HDL cholesterol carries extra cholesterol to the liver so that it can filter out the excess. HDL cholesterol numbers of 60 or higher are ideal⁴.

If your LDL cholesterol levels drop below 50, it can turn into a condition called hypolipidemia. This is a condition that occurs when your body contains a highly reduced amount of cholesterol².

Although healthcare physicians don’t yet know the long-term risks of low LDL cholesterol levels, hypolipidemia is usually asymptomatic and doesn’t often cause problems to an individual’s heart health².

Individuals with very low cholesterol levels usually fall under one of the following categories that cause low LDL.

Primary hypolipidemia happens when someone has a genetic condition that predisposes them to lower LDL levels⁵. There are three rare genetic disorders associated with primary low LDL levels, including⁵:

• Abetalipoproteinemia is a disorder that limits your body’s ability to absorb fats, sometimes resulting in a lipid deficiency⁷.

• Chylomicron retention disease is a genetic disorder that healthcare providers usually diagnose in babies and children. They identify the disease with symptoms including general malnutrition and failure to thrive².

• Hypobetalipoproteinemia is another disorder that makes it difficult for the body to process and absorb fats. There usually aren’t any identifiable symptoms other than extremely low LDL levels².

It’s more common to have secondary hypolipidemia, a disorder caused by other underlying health conditions, such as²:

• Chronic infections – Hepatitis C is an infection that can lead to very low LDL levels².

• Various types of cancer – A recent study linked low HDL levels to a higher risk of being diagnosed with certain types of cancer, including non-Hodgkin lymphoma, breast cancer, lung cancer, and nervous system cancer⁹.

• Hyperthyroidism – Hyperthyroidism occurs when your thyroid is overactive and produces too much of the thyroid hormone. In some cases, it can increase the turnover and excretion of cholesterol, lowering your LDL levels¹⁰.

• Malabsorption – Malabsorption is a digestive disorder that prohibits your body from properly absorbing nutrients from your food¹¹.

• Undernutrition – Undernutrition occurs when the body isn’t receiving an adequate amount of nutrients through the diet. This can occur due to anorexia¹⁴ or extreme consumption of alcohol⁵.

If you’re taking a cholesterol-lowering medication—such as a statin—you may notice cholesterol levels that appear too low³. If your statin dosage is too high, it may need to be adjusted by your medical provider. An adjusted dose can help your cholesterol levels regulate to a number that falls within the “normal” cholesterol range.

In many cases, a low LDL cholesterol level doesn’t have any noticeable negative effects on the body². But if you’re unsure of your existing cholesterol levels or you’re worried that you have high cholesterol, it’s always a good idea to uncover where your total cholesterol numbers stand.

If you’re looking for a simple way to determine your cholesterol levels, try the Everlywell Cholesterol and Lipid Test. Not only does it measure your total cholesterol levels, but it also determines your individual LDL, HDL, and triglyceride levels.

Whether this is your first time learning about your cholesterol levels, or you take statins and are looking for a convenient way to monitor them regularly, you can complete the mail-in kit from the comfort of your home. Simply collect your sample, mail it in to one of our certified labs, and receive easy-to-understand results in days using our secure digital platform.