Hi - as a follow-up regarding my statement that Triglycerides are often a more predictive value of cardiac risk in women - this is of course still being studied since women were often thought to not be at risk for heart disease like men, and subsequently there have been very few studies on women, and many women with heart attack were sent home. Also the female hormones play a large role in a women's risk factors for coronary artery disease (CAD).

In a chapter from Braunwald, "Heart Disese: A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine, 6th ed." - "Elevated total cholesterol and LDL levels are only weakly associated with CAD in women and only in women 65 years or younger. Instead, HDL is closely and inversely associated with CAD risk. Triglycerides are an independent predictor of CAD, particularly in older women. Hormone replacement therapy with estrogen increases triglycerides in 20 - 25% of women, especially if their baseline levels were already elevated."

In general this chapter in Braunwald is saying that HDL and triglycerides more indicative for your risk of coronary artery disease than total cholesteral and LDL levels. While you are searching for info on this topic, please share with us. This is an important topic for both men and women - especially on low carbohydrate diet since there is such a significant improvement in most peoples lipids when eating fat and protein, and small amount of carbs. Amazing! Totally the opposite of what the mainstream medical community embraces.

This is not medical advice, and any concerns you have should be directed at your medical doctor or cardiologist.

Oh Happy Day!

Patti

PS - HDL is typically raised with exercise, quiting smoking, and losing weight.