I am curious as to what people's theories might be as to what is going on 
here. Do any studies claim to know WHY some people have naturally very low or 
high cholesterol levels?

The monkeys mentioned had their cholesterol levels artificially altered by 
diet. But there is no mention of this in the case of the "increased
violent tendencies in adolescents and young adults with low blood
cholesterol."

Maddy Mason
Hudson Valley, NY
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September 26, 2002
NUTRITION NEWS FOCUS
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Today's Topic: Low Cholesterol and Violent Death

Several studies have found increased deaths from trauma, accidents,
and suicide in men with serum cholesterol that was reduced by diet or
drugs.  In an attempt to clarify the findings, a study was published
in the January 6, 2001 edition of the British Medical Journal that
performed a meta-analysis on 19 of 21 eligible trials.
< <A HREF="http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/abstract/322/7277/11">
http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/abstract/322/7277/11</A> >  A
meta-analysis is a quantitative study of previously published reports.

There was a (non-statistically significant) trend toward increased
death in diet and some drug studies to lower cholesterol.  The statin
drugs (which inhibit the body's production of cholesterol but also
have other actions) show no rise in mortality from violent causes.
The authors conclude that currently available evidence does not link
cholesterol lowering with increased non-illness deaths.

HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: This is a real hot
button issue among some scientists.  However, the absolute number of
deaths in all these trials combined is fairly small, numbering a
little more than 100.  The increased deaths could be coincidence, but
they could be a real effect.  Studies of monkeys fed
cholesterol-lowering diets found they were more aggressive than those
fed the control diet.  Also, studies of behavior suggest increased
violent tendencies in adolescents and young adults with low blood
cholesterol.  There will be more studies and controversy on this
issue.