Anyone else with LOW cholesterol??

So ever since my first cholesterol test, around 2006, my numbers have been very low. Since 2013, when my major problems started and I've gotten more tests, they've almost always been around:

HDL ("good" cholesterol) - 35-38 -- typical "reference" ranges want at least 40
Total cholesterol - 70-89 -- typical "ref" wants at least 100
LDL "bad" - don't remember off the top of my head, but also low

I have had a few docs remark about it, and indicate some at least small concern. One even recommended niacin to help bring it up, or an ND give me fish oil, etc. It hasn't really budged much, although I haven't stayed on any concerted treatment the entire time, either.

My recent new NMD, somewhat more Lyme-literate, saw my numbers and said he'd never seen any that low. He called them "medical emergency" level and got me on 2 different oil supps and astaxanthin. Of course cholesterol is the base for many important things like making hormones, lubricating joints, brain health, etc. So maybe there's no wonder I feel terrible...


Anybody else have this kind of issue? Or any thoughts on mechanisms, results, association with Lyme, etc.???

Thanks!
CJ


FWIW, most of my hormones have been fairly reasonable - adrenal high or low with stress and exhaustion, but at least functioning. Progesterone seemed a bit on the low side, and testosterone definitely on the low side but not hugely out of whack.

I have never heard of anyone with such a low total cholesterol. I did a quick search. Its looks like it can be from malabsorption or celiac desease.

I would look into any intestinal issues.

Thanks.

My current, non-LL, ND has really pushed on me to work on digestion, although that started a couple of months before the last test. I really have no digestive symptoms, but he's big on it and felt that some old tests did indicate some difficulties.

My most recent batches of supplements for cholesterol have been since the test, so maybe it's time for another checkup. I recall from previous research that they usually recommend at least 3 months between tests if you're doing some intervention, and it's been almost 6 so...

Girlie - I would be really surprised if you haven't had yours tested. It's a pretty basic one - just could be no one's ever commented on it and it hasn't raised any red flags to you (which would be a good sign!). Look for "lipids" or some such, besides cholesterol, "HDL, LDL", "triglycerides" - all related and a lot of times bundled together in a lipid profile test.

Time to go eat some more delicious oily sauteed veggies or something...

Can you give me any update on your low cholesterol. I have this as well and not sure what to do.

-----> Hi Boots --- sorry I did not reply sooner. I have been distracted with other exciting things (like sleep apnea, GERD, reorganizing my house) and so haven't been too active looking at Lyme stuff or this board.

Anyhow, my total cholesterol was still low, 91, in September; HDL low at 35. Which seems like the highest it's been for very long - I'm thinking it may have been higher for a while when I was taking lots of fish oil or other supplements. I hadn't been taking much of anything that I can remember, for a while (months) before that lab, so maybe something has improved a bit.

I came across another thread where you and 1000Daisies were discussing this - looks like there is some helpful info there.

----> Georgia Hunter ---- that's really interesting! Thanks for mentioning it. I just looked back through my records and my alk-phos has always been near the low end of the scale, 40s or maybe 50s on a reference range around 40-115. Bingo! Now I'll have to go look into this and maybe start supplementing manganese. (Now that I think about it, that vaguely rings a bell, someone may have suggested that to me long ago.... hmmm.)

Thanks for the info, Georgia! I'll keep that in mind.