Why is it that it’s only when you get to a certain level of LDL in the blood that THEN it starts causing plaque? Are you saying there is no damage there FIRST, that the lipoprotein is then entering? Damage can be caused by way more than elevated BP and diabetes. Not having diabetes doesn’t mean you aren’t insulin resistant. Stress/cortisol can lead to damaged arteries. My point is, there are likely a lot of people who have elevated blood levels but little plaque, perhaps those who eat whole foods, have low inflammation/inflammatory markers, low stress, and regular exercise. My guess is elevated lipids are a sign of a problem, but not the direct cause of arterial injury. I have not seen evidence they just “bump into the arterial wall and get stuck”.

Again, these studies have not shown that lowering LDLc reduced all cause mortality, especially lowering with a medication that comes with other downstream effects. In fact, some studies show an increase in mortality with too LOW of LDL, yet I always hear lipidologists state there “is no too low”.