Abstract
We need to move beyond simplistic concepts such as the idea that low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol is “bad” and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol is “good.” A low HDL level in a person consuming a diet that is low in fat, cholesterol, and animal protein may have prognostic implications that differ from those of a low HDL level in a person consuming a typical American diet.1