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No association between LDL cholesterol levels and cellular membrane integrity assessed with phase angle: Insights

Joanna Popiolek-Kalisz1

  • 1Department of Clinical Dietetics, Medical University of Lublin, ul. Chodzki 7, 20-059 Lublin, Poland.

Clinica E Investigacion En Arteriosclerosis : Publicacion Oficial De La Sociedad Espanola De Arteriosclerosis
|September 10, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Intensive LDL-C reduction appears safe for cellular membrane integrity, as measured by phase angle (PhA). Age and body composition, not LDL-C levels, significantly influence PhA in high cardiovascular risk patients.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Biophysics
  • Nutritional Science

Background:

  • Aggressive LDL-C reduction offers cardiovascular benefits but raises concerns about cellular function.
  • Cholesterol is vital for cell membrane integrity, and its reduction may impact cellular health.
  • Phase angle (PhA), from bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), indicates cell membrane integrity and nutritional status.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels and cellular membrane integrity (PhA).
  • To assess the safety of intensive LDL-C reduction in high cardiovascular risk patients.

Main Methods:

  • A cross-sectional study involving 140 high cardiovascular risk patients.
  • Patients were stratified by LDL-C levels (<55 vs. ≥55 mg/dL) and matched for age, sex, and BMI.
  • Phase angle (PhA) at 50kHz was the primary outcome, measured alongside laboratory and anthropometric data.

Main Results:

  • No significant difference in PhA was observed between low and high LDL-C groups (4.88 vs. 4.93, p=0.67).
  • Multivariable regression showed no association between LDL-C and PhA after adjusting for age, sex, fat-free mass, and biochemical parameters.
  • PhA strongly correlated inversely with age (R=-0.60) and positively with eGFR (R=0.38), but not with LDL-C.

Conclusions:

  • The study found no association between LDL-C levels and cellular membrane integrity as assessed by PhA.
  • These findings suggest that intensive LDL-C reduction may be physiologically safe regarding cellular membrane integrity.
  • Age and body composition appear to be the primary determinants of PhA, rather than LDL-C levels.
Abstract

Keywords:
Análisis de impedancia bioeléctricaBioelectrical impedance analysisBody compositionComposición corporalDesnutriciónDislipidemiaDyslipidemiaEstado nutricionalEstatinasHipercolesterolemiaHypercholesterolemiaMalnutritionNutritional statusPhase angleStatinÁngulo de fase

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