This is in Taubes' book, too.

Pat Barrett
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "BJ" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Friday, November 30, 2007 4:28 AM
Subject: cholesterol and age


> Recently, I somewhere read that older people with high cholesterol live
> longer.  I don't remember if it was on this list or not, but I'm thinking
> this could be true.
>
> I'm in my sixties - back when I was in college, mother called to let me 
> know
> dad's cholesterol tested around 400.  She claimed the doctor didn't even
> want him to leave the office.  I don't know to this day if that's even
> possible, but I DO know that over the years every doctor has told him his
> cholesterol is dangerously high.  He has always refused medication for 
> that.
>
> He is 96 1/2 years old today, and only in the last 3 months, has taken
> residence at an assisted living center.  He is in perfect health (except 
> for
> the dangerously high cholesterol, of course), and takes no medication than 
> a
> thyroid pill.  He is alert, mentally sharp other than some forgetfulness,
> walks around on his own, and even drove himself to the center.  While I 
> was
> visiting this summer, he had his eyes checked. The doctor said he only
> wished his eyes were that good....he tested perfect....doesn't even need
> glasses.
>
> His diet?  Let's see - not much pork, except for breakfast sausage....but
> beef every meal if he could get it, along with homemade bread for 
> sandwiches
> he toted off to his huge farm every single day until this year.  He liked
> dairy (lots and lots of butter!) and very limited vegetables - I think I
> grew up on potatoes, corn and cucumbers.  We NEVER had fish except for 
> tuna
> on Fridays (religious law at that time), which he hated.  He often ate 
> meat
> anyway.  We did eat chicken but only in moderate amounts since it was a 
> lot
> of work to go out and kill a chicken for dinner!
>
> One thing I did notice was the development of a sweet tooth as he aged. 
> His
> once-perfect teeth have deteriorated the last 5 years, but as far as I'm
> concerned, he can have anything he wants.
>
> His weight never varied until recently - he was a stocky man, but never
> overweight...solid muscle and extremely strong - he is now becoming frail 
> as
> old age is finally taking its toll.
>
> I don't "doctor" so I have no idea of my cholesterol.  Hope he had some
> genetic influence on me.
>
> BJ
>
>