Some people follow a ketogenic diet seeking to lose weight, feel more energised, or gain control over their eating habits. Others may turn to this diet in an effort to treat their epilepsy, bipolar disorder, or diabetes. Regardless of their reasoning for adopting this eating pattern, a key question remains: can high LDL cholesterol levels on a ketogenic diet be safe? In Episode #311, I’m joined by Dr William Cromwell, MD and Dave Feldman to explore this question.
:point_down: Visit The Proof website for the full show notes and supporting studies. :point_down:
Dr William Cromwell is a lipidologist with over 35 years of clinical practice experience. Since 1990, Dr Cromwell’s practice has specialised in managing lipid and lipoprotein disorders. He has authored over two dozen peer-reviewed papers and book chapters on evaluating and managing lipoprotein disorders and lipoprotein analytics. Dave Feldman is a software and platform engineer, an entrepreneur, and founder of the Citizen Science Foundation. His life took a radical turn on seeing his cholesterol skyrocket after adopting a ketogenic diet, leading him to research lipidology. Through a series of self-experiments and partnering with formal researchers, he has since published the "Lipid Energy Model" which may explain this phenomenon.
Connect with Dr William Cromwell:
- Twitter/X (personal): /lipoprotein
- Twitter/X (Precision Health Reports): / precisehlthrpt
- LinkedIn (personal): /wcromwellmd
- LinkedIn (Precision Health Reports): / precisionhealthreports
- Facebook: / precisionhealthreports
- Instagram: / precisehlthrpt
- Website (personal): - Website (Precision Health Reports):
Connect with Dave Feldman:
- Twitter/X: / realdavefeldman
- YouTube: / @realdavefeldman
- Instagram: / realdavefeldman
- Citizen Science Foundation: - Own Your Labs: - Cholesterol Code:
We covered:
00:00 Intro
01:54 Dr. William Cromwell: Background as a Lipidologist and LDL Research
05:34 Dave Feldman's Ketogenic Diet and Elevated LDL Experience
12:30 Unpacking the Lipid Hypothesis and Cardiovascular Risk
20:40 The history and evolution of the lipid hypothesis
23:39 The role of apoB lipoproteins in atherosclerosis
31:59 Factors beyond apoB involved in atherosclerosis and mortality risk
41:43 The complexity of interpreting mortality data in the context of apoB
44:00 Macrophages and the process of atherosclerosis
52:57 Beyond ApoB: Metabolic Vulnerability, Inflammation and Mortality Risk
1:10:35 Transcytosis: A New Perspective on LDL Movement and Atherosclerosis
1:17:33 Exploring Low Cholesterol Impacts and Genetic Disorders
1:22:30 Macrophage Function and Phenotype Across Different ApoB Drivers
1:31:41 Defining Lean Mass Hyper Responders in the Context of a Ketogenic Diet
1:38:00 Investigating PCSK9 and Its Effects on Healthspan
1:44:18 Assessing cardiovascular risk in lean mass hyper-responders
2:02:19 Statin safety, adverse effects, and patient reluctance
2:11:10 Ketogenic Diets and Elevated LDL: Risks and Benefits in the Absence of Long-Term Data
2:18:40 Insulin Resistance, ApoB, and Cardiovascular Risk: Challenges in Assessment and Imaging
2:33:06 Lean Mass Hyper-Responder Study: Design, Recruitment, and Eligibility Criteria
3:05:15 Outro
Enjoy, friends.
Simon
This episode is brought to you by:
InsideTracker
If you want to improve your health, you need to measure where you’re currently at. InsideTracker analyses up to 48 blood biomarkers including ApoB, LDL, HDL, A1C, and more before giving you advice to optimise your health. Get a 20% discount on your first order at insidetracker.com/simon
Shopify
Shopify, the world's leading e-commerce platform, helps you turn browsers into buyers with the internet’s best-converting check out–up to 36% better compared to other leading e-commerce platforms. To boost your conversion rate, and grow your business, sign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial period at
Sun Home Saunas
Invest in your body and mind with Sun Home Saunas, pioneers in crafting premium saunas and cold plunges. Safe, effective, research-backed wellness tools to improve cardiovascular health, offer psychological benefits, and reduce muscle soreness. Head to for $300 off your purchase.
Eimele
Eimele Essential 8 is a comprehensive multivitamin that is scientifically formulated to complement your plant-rich diet, increase and sustain your energy, and support the immune system, as well as heart and brain health. Head to Eimele.com and use code SIMON at checkout for 10% off your first order.
Simon Hill, MSc, BSc (Hons)
Creator of and host of The Proof with Simon Hill Author of The Proof is in the Plants #weight loss medication fda #bio keto gummies reviews
High LDL Cholesterol on a Ketogenic Diet: What You Need to Know | William Cromwell, Dave Feldman [td6zWEQI9yT]
Some people follow a ketogenic diet seeking to lose weight, feel more energised, or gain control over their eating habits. Others may turn to this diet in an effort to treat their epilepsy, bipolar disorder, or diabetes. Regardless of their reasoning for adopting this eating pattern, a key question remains: can high LDL cholesterol levels on a ketogenic diet be safe? In Episode #311, I’m joined by Dr William Cromwell, MD and Dave Feldman to explore this question.
:point_down: Visit The Proof website for the full show notes and supporting studies. :point_down:
Dr William Cromwell is a lipidologist with over 35 years of clinical practice experience. Since 1990, Dr Cromwell’s practice has specialised in managing lipid and lipoprotein disorders. He has authored over two dozen peer-reviewed papers and book chapters on evaluating and managing lipoprotein disorders and lipoprotein analytics. Dave Feldman is a software and platform engineer, an entrepreneur, and founder of the Citizen Science Foundation. His life took a radical turn on seeing his cholesterol skyrocket after adopting a ketogenic diet, leading him to research lipidology. Through a series of self-experiments and partnering with formal researchers, he has since published the "Lipid Energy Model" which may explain this phenomenon.
Connect with Dr William Cromwell:
- Twitter/X (personal): /lipoprotein
- Twitter/X (Precision Health Reports): / precisehlthrpt
- LinkedIn (personal): /wcromwellmd
- LinkedIn (Precision Health Reports): / precisionhealthreports
- Facebook: / precisionhealthreports
- Instagram: / precisehlthrpt
- Website (personal): - Website (Precision Health Reports):
Connect with Dave Feldman:
- Twitter/X: / realdavefeldman
- YouTube: / @realdavefeldman
- Instagram: / realdavefeldman
- Citizen Science Foundation: - Own Your Labs: - Cholesterol Code:
We covered:
00:00 Intro
01:54 Dr. William Cromwell: Background as a Lipidologist and LDL Research
05:34 Dave Feldman's Ketogenic Diet and Elevated LDL Experience
12:30 Unpacking the Lipid Hypothesis and Cardiovascular Risk
20:40 The history and evolution of the lipid hypothesis
23:39 The role of apoB lipoproteins in atherosclerosis
31:59 Factors beyond apoB involved in atherosclerosis and mortality risk
41:43 The complexity of interpreting mortality data in the context of apoB
44:00 Macrophages and the process of atherosclerosis
52:57 Beyond ApoB: Metabolic Vulnerability, Inflammation and Mortality Risk
1:10:35 Transcytosis: A New Perspective on LDL Movement and Atherosclerosis
1:17:33 Exploring Low Cholesterol Impacts and Genetic Disorders
1:22:30 Macrophage Function and Phenotype Across Different ApoB Drivers
1:31:41 Defining Lean Mass Hyper Responders in the Context of a Ketogenic Diet
1:38:00 Investigating PCSK9 and Its Effects on Healthspan
1:44:18 Assessing cardiovascular risk in lean mass hyper-responders
2:02:19 Statin safety, adverse effects, and patient reluctance
2:11:10 Ketogenic Diets and Elevated LDL: Risks and Benefits in the Absence of Long-Term Data
2:18:40 Insulin Resistance, ApoB, and Cardiovascular Risk: Challenges in Assessment and Imaging
2:33:06 Lean Mass Hyper-Responder Study: Design, Recruitment, and Eligibility Criteria
3:05:15 Outro
Enjoy, friends.
Simon
This episode is brought to you by:
InsideTracker
If you want to improve your health, you need to measure where you’re currently at. InsideTracker analyses up to 48 blood biomarkers including ApoB, LDL, HDL, A1C, and more before giving you advice to optimise your health. Get a 20% discount on your first order at insidetracker.com/simon
Shopify
Shopify, the world's leading e-commerce platform, helps you turn browsers into buyers with the internet’s best-converting check out–up to 36% better compared to other leading e-commerce platforms. To boost your conversion rate, and grow your business, sign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial period at
Sun Home Saunas
Invest in your body and mind with Sun Home Saunas, pioneers in crafting premium saunas and cold plunges. Safe, effective, research-backed wellness tools to improve cardiovascular health, offer psychological benefits, and reduce muscle soreness. Head to for $300 off your purchase.
Eimele
Eimele Essential 8 is a comprehensive multivitamin that is scientifically formulated to complement your plant-rich diet, increase and sustain your energy, and support the immune system, as well as heart and brain health. Head to Eimele.com and use code SIMON at checkout for 10% off your first order.
Simon Hill, MSc, BSc (Hons)
Creator of and host of The Proof with Simon Hill Author of The Proof is in the Plants #weight loss medication fda #bio keto gummies reviews