Purpose
The National Institutes of Health says that cholesterol is necessary for proper functioning of the human body. Cholesterol supports membrane structures, and certain endocrine glands use it to synthesize steroid hormones. NIH says the brain has the highest cholesterol concentration of any body organ. Cholesterol is necessary for the brain's proper growth and development.
Brain Effects
An editorial in The American Society for Clinical Investigation Inc. says that Smith-Lemli-Opitz Syndrome may be caused by cholesterol deficiency in the brain. This syndrome, which was first identified in 1964, may result in severe mental retardation and an abnormally small head. Further research has shown that the microcephaly might result from too little cholesterol being available in the brain.
Body Effects
According to the Sandy Simmons' Connective Tissue Disorder Site, several studies have shown that too little cholesterol can increase the risk of cerebral hemorrhage in men. The American Heart Association linked low cholesterol levels with an increased risk of hemorrhagic stokes. The NIH found that women with low cholesterol levels are at a higher risk of giving birth prematurely and having a baby with a low birth weight.
Emotional Effects
Low cholesterol may cause emotional effects in some people. According to Dr. Randy Sansone, writing in the journal "Psychiatry," several studies have found links between low cholesterol and depression. Sassone cited a South Korean study that found a possible link between too-low cholesterol levels, depression and suicide and a Finnish study that showed people with low levels of cholesterol are more likely to be hospitalized for depression. A U.S. study confirmed the elevated hospitalization risk. CNN reported on another study, performed at Payne Whitney Clinic in New York, that that found people who take cholesterol-lowering drugs or who have a lower than normal cholesterol level have impulse control problems. Some also act more aggressively or destructively than normal.
