Good cholesterol link to infections

oUR levels of ‘good’ cholesterol may determine how susceptible we are to infectious diseases such as gastroenteritis and pneumonia, according to a study in the european Heart Journal.

Researchers at the University of copenhagen and copenhagen University Hospital in Denmark analysed data from 100,000 people and found that those who had either very low, or very high, ‘ good’ HDl cholesterol levels were at a greater risk of being hospitalised, and even dying from, an infectious disease.

The results were surprising, as high HDl levels are usually seen as healthy for hearts.

exactly why it might be linked to infection is unclear, though HDl has been shown in animal studies to have a role in immune function.