Question: My total cholesterol and LDL are very high (total is 400), but my HDL is also higher than normal (above 90). I hardly ever eat fatty food, and my weight is normal (5-foot-4, and 131 pounds). I know statins can damage the liver. What are your thoughts about it?
Dr. Hibberd's answer:
Without knowing your triglyceride value, your cardiac risk cannot be accurately assessed here. Normally, LDL (the "bad" cholesterol that is the principal contributor to plaque build-up) under 100 is desirable, even levels of up to 130 are "normal." HDL (the "good" cholesterol that cleans up and binds the bad cholesterol) over 60 is desirable, and the higher the HDL the more protection you have.
Your high HDL is probably a good thing, but it must be interpreted with your other risk factors, such as triglycerides. Your weight seems appropriate for your height, but I have no information on your other habits such as smoking, family history of stroke or heart attack, or the presence of other diseases known to adversely affect your risk such as diabetes or hypertension.
If you have these other factors assessed and statins are recommended, I would not worry about the rare possibility the newer-generation statins pose a problem. Follow the advice of your physician.
Treating cholesterol with statins is usually beneficial and not harmful to the liver, with only very rare exceptions. In addition, stains have an anti-inflammatory effect known to stabilize existing plaque and will reduce the incidence of recurrent heart attack and stroke in patients at risk when used properly under competent physician supervision. The Food and Drug Administration has less concern about statin use today and has relaxed the frequency of liver testing once advised with statins over the last 10 years.
© 2026 NewsmaxHealth. All rights reserved.