• 00:00 🚗 Cholesterol is transported in the bloodstream by lipoproteins, with LDL (low-density lipoprotein) and HDL (high-density lipoprotein) being common types.
• 01:51 📊 High LDL-cholesterol levels are associated with heart disease in population studies, but caution is needed as lifestyle factors may influence the results.
• 03:13 🧬 Genetic differences contribute to varying LDL-cholesterol levels, but lifestyle factors, such as diet, also play a significant role.
• 04:36 💡 Scientific guidelines strongly support the link between increased LDL-cholesterol levels and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (plaque in arteries).
• 05:31 🚗 Heart disease risk is more related to the number of lipoprotein particles (vehicles) than the amount of cholesterol they carry, emphasizing the importance of counting cars, not just passengers.
• 06:55 🔄 For most people, LDL-cholesterol level is a decent estimation of LDL particle number, but additional tests like apoB and LDL-P can provide a more accurate count.
• 08:43 🔄 Raising HDL-cholesterol with drugs doesn't improve cardiovascular risk, challenging the idea of HDL as "good cholesterol," and very high levels may even pose risks.
• 09:39 🔄 Simplistic notions of "good" and "bad" cholesterol don't align with the evidence; both LDL and HDL are essential, and balance is key.

Statin by itself will not help you much. But statin w/ lifestyle change is net benefit, maybe to point of not needing statin (?). Lifestyle change is key. Is he comparing lifestyle change w/ and w/o statin?

Best marker is tryglycerides(TG) / HDL... TG drop off fat to fat cell and become small LDL, the bad kind.