In recent months, there has been a growing focus in Lipidology on the phenomenon of high cholesterol levels for those going on a low carb diet. In particular, there have been recent case series published in the Journal of Clinical Lipidology discussing this specifically. This increased interest is certainly welcome, and we definitely advocate for expanding research on this important topic as it has been a central focus of our work for over five years.
It should first be emphasized neither myself (Dave Feldman) nor my colleague, Siobhan Huggins, are medical professionals and this doesn’t constitute medical advice. Moreover, we frequently make this distinction to those following our work. That said, while much of our research isn’t in a formal setting, we have accumulated a great deal of data and analyses that we’ve found helpful to ourselves and others. And, we’ll soon be partnering with doctors Spencer Nadolsky and Tommy Wood on a coming clinical study that will be testing these high levels of cholesterol and its association development of atherosclerosis. (More on this below)
Hyper-responders
The term “hyper-responder” has been used within the low carb community for several years, and it generally refers to those who see a substantial increase in their total and LDL cholesterol levels after adopting a low carb, high fat diet. We believe the term was first used by Dr. Thomas Dayspring in relation to this dietary outcome (originally discussed in an article on LecturePad.org, but this site is longer available).
The Low Carb Lipid Triad
We believe there is a particular lipid profile of enormous interest that goes beyond simply higher LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) seen in hyper-responders. It’s the combination of high HDL cholesterol (HDL-C) and low triglycerides (TG) alongside it. This is actually much more common in those having adopted a low carb diet who appear in excellent metabolic health. And we believe it’s an extremely important clue in helping to explain why LDL-C is higher in these individuals. We’ll go into this in further detail in the next part of this series.

Studies on those with this “triad” of high LDL-C, high HDL-C, and low TG are limited. But of those studies we’ve found, this profile associates with a low risk of cardiovascular disease overall, though slightly more than its counterpart triad with low LDL-C.
In this Framingham Offspring study, we highlight the odds ratio of those both with LDL-C ≥ 100 and 130 under the “High HDL-C” column (≥ 40 males, ≥ 50 females), and triglycerides < 100. (Colored markings and overlay mine)

In this observational cohort study of 2906 men aged 53 to 74 years free of IHD at baseline, we see this relationship as well. (Colored markings mine)
Thus, while these studies are not explicitly on those consuming a low carb diet, that may give us the most insight we can for the time being on what the risk level may be with this particular lipid profile.
Conversely, low HDL and high triglycerides are well established in the literature as key components to Atherogenic Dyslipidemia and Metabolic Syndrome overall. These profiles are strongly associated with Coronary Artery Disease and all-cause mortality.
Lean Mass Hyper-responders
The phenotype “Lean Mass Hyper-responder” (LMHRs) is a subset of these hyper-responders, and are characterized as having an extraordinarily pronounced lipid triad. These were first defined myself in an article on Cholesterol Code in July of 2017.
There are exactly three criteria for LMHRs:
- LDL cholesterol of 200 mg/dL or higher
- HDL cholesterol of 80 mg/dL or higher
- Triglycerides of 70 mg/dL or lower.

Much of the reason this phenotype was referred to as “Lean Mass” is that many who presented with this pattern were often very lean and/or fit while on a very low carb diet. But this term was strictly observational. We have since observed a few outliers that have been slightly overweight, but none as of yet that have been obese.
While counterintuitive, generally the highest levels of total and LDL cholesterol in the low carb community are found almost exclusively in LMHRs. Where it is often observed marginally higher cholesterol is found in those with poor health, LMHRs often presents with very low risk markers across the board, such as low blood pressure, waist-to-hip ratio, inflammatory markers, and HOMA-IR to name a few.
There has been speculation of a genetic component that might result in these substantially higher levels, such as a polygenetic FH or ApoE4. But shared data among this community has continued to show a wide genetic variability with no predominant genetic variants yet identified. Moreover, existing studies from Volek and Phinney on low carb athletes show a near ubiquity in this pattern as well. (At right, see Figure 1 from the study)
A Possible Model to Help Explain
We believe higher total and LDL cholesterol levels in those going on a low carb diet can be in part explained by greater synthesis, secretion, and turnover of triglyceride-rich VLDL, thus leading to a higher resulting quantity of LDL particles, particularly with LMHRs. This “Lipid Energy Model” is being developed by our team and we hope to have it published in the future. For a brief overview, you can visit our Lipid Energy Model poster, or watch my presentation to Stanford.
New Attention by the National Lipid Association
Recently, the Journal of Clinical Lipidology has published case series on this phenomenon, Keto diets, not for everyone and Extreme elevations of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol with very low carbohydrate, high fat diets. These data include some patients with concerning outcomes, such as the case of hypertriglyceridemia (high TG, rather than low) and xanthoma development.
To be sure, we’re not aware of any in the series published that meet the criteria of Lean Mass Hyper-responders, but this term is mentioned prominently in these articles and may result in some confusion that the phenotype can apply to everyone observing increased LDL cholesterol from diet without regard to HDL and triglycerides. Again, this phenotype is defined by all three all three cut points (per above), not LDL-C alone. Moreover, we would likewise agree that low HDL-C and high TG (characteristic of Atherogenic Dyslipidemia) is a concerning profile whether one has high or low LDL-C.
As our site was mentioned in the initial case series, we submitted a Letter to the Editor for our response. However, our letter was rejected. We’ve since published it as an Open Letter to the Editor which you can read here. We’ll continue to seek productive engagement with the National Lipid Association as we appreciate their exceptional ability to help move this research forward.
To speak plainly, if you’re a Lipidologist reading this now and you’ve been instinctively skeptical of our work, it’s entirely understandable given the high saturation of poorly researched advice given to patients found on the internet. Winning trust for our unique circumstances may take time for many in this important field, but we’ll continue to do our best in accomplishing it. Please be aware we’re always interested in discussing this crucial topic with professionals, sharing our community data, and helping in any way we can to further advance research in this important (and in our opinion, understudied) phenomenon.
Our Coming Clinical Trial on LMHRs
A year and a half ago we founded a fully qualified 501(c)(3) public charity, the Citizen Science Foundation. It was started in large part because we wanted to raise money for clinical trials to take this important data to the next level. And I’m pleased to say we’ve successfully crowdfunded a study that is now in IRB. This study will enroll 100 Lean Mass Hyper-responders and capture high resolution CT angiograms on each, both at the beginning and end of the trial one year later. With these comparison scans, we’ll have strong data on progression of plaque volume to better understand the true risk level for this phenotype.
We’ll have much more to share on this coming study once we’ve reached approval from the IRB.
Dave and Siobhan,
I am so excited to follow your study on LMHR individuals and their risk of atherosclerosis! I am considered to be a LMHR based my my past NMR lipid tests. I can use as much info as possible to try to explain my situation to my cardiologist. Will your study include the investigation of small LDL particles? I seem to have an above normal amount, yet I follow a low-carb Keto diet. Hmm I am in the process of researching why I have a high number of small particle LDL and how to improve that. Thank you so much for all the help and information that you have provided us!
-Ellie
Hi Ellie–
As always, this isn’t medical advice.
I can’t say the full details on the study until we are approved by the IRB. But I can say we’ll be getting quite a lot of testing for the participants. What all that entails I hope to tell you soon once we’ve been approved.
My hypothesis regarding small LDL particles is that LMHRs will demonstrate a very different composition than what we see in populations with atherogenic dyslipidemia. I posit the small particles of LMHRs will have lower relative triglycerides and higher relative cholesterol compared to the AD population where it is the reverse.
If so, this would fit the Lipid Energy Model given the higher rate of turnover explains the higher absolute number of small LDL, even though the proportion is actually lower than those with AD. It’s actually very common for LMHRs to have around small LDL particles at between 5 to 30% of their total LDL particles count, yet as a ratio, this is very low compared to AD.
This is yet one more reason for the study. If my hypothesis is correct, this will provide further data supporting these patterns as more a consequence than a cause.
Hi Dave,
I so do appreciate your response! On my last NMR my LDL-P was 2735, and my small LDL-P was 672. Is it correct to divide the LDL-P by the small LDL-P to obtain the percentage of the total LDL particle count? If so, mine would be 4.07%, which doesn’t look quite as horrible as I initially thought….. I look forward to following all the data/analysis your study will provide us. Thank you so much for all that you do for us. Sorry that you became a human-pin-cushion, but we are very grateful for your work!
Hi Ellie –
Yes, you can divide one by the other to determine the percentage. But, to get the percentage out of the total, you divide 672 by 2735, which would be 0.247 or about 25% which is within the range Dave described that has been observed.
😀 thanks for your help!!!
“Again, this phenotype is defined by all three all three cut points (per above), not LDL-C alone.” This phrase should be in all caps, bolded, and in red.
I actually considered something akin to that for better highlighting. It’s certainly a concern this phenotype could be confused by those unfamiliar with it on the basis of one marker alone.
Have you considered looking at the rs5082 variant of the Apo A ll gene? These individuals seem to hyper absorb dietary saturated fat.
Haven’t looked into that. But will check into it. Thanks!
OK
Thanks for the update!
Great post!!!!!
Hi Both,
Thanks so much for this study it’s really fascinating. I’m 59 and have had high cholesterol all of my life and have also been slightly overweight by around 12 pounds. 3 months ago I changed to LCHF diet and feel amazing. I am right down to optimal weight and exercise for about an hour 6 days per week. My lipids are typical of a hyper responder but I also had a very high ALT liver enzyme come back on my last liver test which I am really concerned about. I wondered if anyone else in the community has experienced this? I’ve been told that liver enzymes are often high with regular exercisers. I’ve also read that high amounts of protein intake may causes it. Other than that I am stumped as to why it is elevated. I intermittent fast 18/6 every day and don’t drink alcohol. Any advice would be hugely appreciated
Thanks
Mark
I can’t say I have a lot of experience looking into that specifically, but I know there are some in the Facebook groups that have had some discussions on ALT in the context of hyper-responders. As always, don’t take as medical advice, but there’s a lot of interesting data being shared on these topics. (See the CC or LMHR group)
Hi Mark,
We’re not doctors and can’t give medical advice so can only offer our thoughts in case they may be of interest. Just wanted to add on what Dave said.
Just anecdotally, I have seen this pop up a couple times with regards to exercise and elevated liver enzymes. Additionally this study investigated the scenario and did indeed find that ALT and AST could be elevated by exercise for several days afterwards, but GGT (another liver enzyme) was not elevated in the same situation. However, if it were me, I wouldn’t want to assume it was the exercise without first verifying and would likely want to work with my healthcare team to help clarify.
Hi all I am a Lean mass hyper responder total cholesterol 10.recently had a CAC score test. Result ZERO
Thanks for sharing your results Efa! Anecdotes from both sides have definitely been shared, but hopefully the Lean Mass Hyper-responder study will further help start to clarify this profile and what it may mean for cardiovascular health, so people can make more informed decisions.
Just curious, in the planned LMHR study, will you attempt to have even representation between the sexes? Will you also differentiate between different age groups?
Hi Sara – further information on the study will be shared as soon as it can, but for the time being all that can be shared has been posted to the Citizen Science Foundation website. Any updates, including updates on details that can be shared, will be posted there as well as soon as it is appropriate to do so. 🙂
Thank you so much for your excellent work. I really need it. I believe I am LMHR (TC=377, LDL=277, HDL=91, TG=41, HbA1C=4.8, BP low). My blood was taken after fasting for 18 hours. I am 59, female, and thin (5’4”, 108 lbs). I resistance train most days with cardio every 3 days and have been keto for 4 months. I look and feel better than I have in years. Only problem is osteoporosis (I wish keto could cure that.) My PCP nearly had her own heart attack when she saw my numbers. She begged me to see a cardiologist who specializes in lipids. That person is recommending statins or PCSK9 inhibitors. I’m taking the notes I’ve taken from your lectures to my meeting with her. Wish me luck. I won’t take those meds, but I sure hope I can at least get her to listen. I understand the requirements of standards of care, but it seems ludicrous (and malpractice) to give a healthy woman meds without even knowing my LDL particle size. Crimo, all she has to do is look at me. I wonder if she’ll “see”?
I have regularly had my levels tested over the last few years:
Note: I’m in the UK so I receive my results in mmol/L I’ve converted these to mg/dL using https://www.omnicalculator.com/health/cholesterol-units so might not be totally accurate
Jul 2019
Total: 6.69 mmol/L – 258.7 mg/dL
LDL: 4.60 mmol/L – 177.88 mg/dL
HDL: 1.46 mmol/L – 56.46 mg/dL
Tri: 1.39 mmol/L – 123.12 mg/dL
Oct 2020
Total: 6.40 mmol/L – 247.49 mg/dL
LDL: 4.40 mmol/L – 170.15 mg/dL
HDL: 1.50 mmol/L – 58 mg/dL
Tri: 1.10 mmol/L – 97.43 mg/dL
I am 52 male, my diet/weight over the last few years has been pretty consistent, lots of carbs, BMI of around 25 (height 179cm 84kg) and body fat % of around 15-18% (body fat based on using a Withings scale which could be a wee bit off). I exercise 2-3 times a week with brisk walks of 2.5 miles and hikes of between 1-3 hours.
In Sep 2021 I started a Keto diet and 18/6 IF regime of eating between 12pm and 6pm daily, and have maintained a <20g Carb intake for over 60 days now.
My weight is down to 77.5kg, BMI 24 and my scales reckon my body fat is now 12%.
I had my bloods taken 2 days ago (at 8:30am so a good 14 hours of fasting), usually it takes over a week for the results to come back but 1 day ago I received a call from a (panic sounding pharmacist) to give me the results below
Nov 2021
Total: 9.60 mmol/L – 371.23 mg/dL
LDL: 7.50 mmol/L – 290.02 mg/dL
HDL: 1.60 mmol/L – 61.87 mg/dL
Tri: 1.10 mmol/L – 97.43 mg/dL
So looking at this article I don’t seem to fit into the phenotype but thought I’d pass on my results. My LDL has “shot way up”.
I am planning to make an appointment with a local lipid clinic to help guide on if I should continue with my current diet.
Hi Colin,
For additional context, if you wouldn’t mind, what were the diets correlating to the 2019 and 2020 lipids? And do you know if all were 12-14 hours water-only fasted (including the 2021 one; e.g. no coffee, no tea, no caffeine during the fasting period)? Just curious about any potential confounders.
Additionally, beyond the Lean Mass Hyper-responder profile there is also the “standard hyper-responder” which is just defined by an increase in LDL and total cholesterol from a low carb/ketogenic diet. We can’t say whether either profile is of concern or not (again, not doctors) but there are some resources to explore different perspectives on the topic. For example there’s this presentation from Dave looking at high LDL in the context of high HDL and low triglycerides from a cautiously optimistic perspective, plus this post from Dr. Nadolsky looking at the same topic from a cautiously pessimistic perspective.
In situations where it is dietarily induced, for those who decide they are not comfortable with it for the longterm, the most consistently effective method that we’ve seen demonstrated by people thus far (who have shared back their data) is to decrease fat and proportionally increase carbs (e.g. isocaloric carb swapping), which is discussed here.
Glad to hear also that you are working with your healthcare team to decide what is right for you! Hopefully you can find a solution, regardless of what it is, that you are comfortable with in the long and short term.
Hi Siobhan,
For the 2021 test I definitely did a water only fast from 6pm the previous evening until 8:30am the next day when the bloods were taken.
For the previous 2019 the bloods were taken around 11:30am IIRC and I would have NOT been on a fast and would likely have eaten a coffee & pastry for breakfast at 8am.
For the 2020 I “think” I would have eaten breakfast prior to the test (either a smallish oatmeal portion prob full of sugar or toast & banana).
My diet for the past few years would have included lots of baked potatoes, rice, chapatis, and “lots” of potato chips every day (alongside plenty of chicken, red meat, fish, & fruits such as bananas & oranges).
I would typically eat from 8am & snack constantly through to maybe 10pm some nights.
My height is 179cm & my weight even with a high carb, high calorie diet fluctuated between 82kg – 90kg (I would occasionally skip dinner maybe 3-4 times a month to lose a kg or two but it did go up/down all the time).
When I started my keto & intermittent fasting in Sep 2021 I was 84kg, today I am 75kg.
Hope this helps give more clarity on my results.
Kind regards,
Colin
I would love to know more from you about APOE4/4 and cholesterol – many APOE4 are scared to death of saturated fats and higher cholesterol. I am myself behind the 8 ball of APOE4/4 and type one diabetic. I am low carb and intermittent fast. I love healthy fats and clean grass fed meats. Just had the VAP panel done and IMO the ratios look good. 225 total but I have a LDL of 126 and an HDL of 87, Triglycerides 62. LDL size 21.6 Small LDL-P 175. Thank you for all the info you share!