A six-year longitudinal study identifies a statin-independent association between low LDL-cholesterol and risk of type 2 diabetes
Authors' conclusion
Taken together, our findings demonstrate a strong inverse association between LDL-C and incident T2D in the general population. The increased risk of T2D at lower LDL-C levels appears to be independent of statin use, supporting the role of LDL-C as a potential biomarker of T2D susceptibility.
Study context
- Population
- Individuals free of T2D and CVD at baseline, selected from a population of 202,545; 52% on statins
- Participants
- 13,674 individuals
- Exposure
- Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol (LDL-C) quartiles and statin therapy vs no statin
- Outcome
- Incident T2D
- Follow-up
- Median 71.6 months (IQR 34.5-149.9)
Methodological detailslongitudinal
- Longitudinal
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
median 71.6 months
- Developed incident T2D
- 1,819 (13%)
- Significant inverse association between LDL-C plasma levels and incident T2D
- p < 0.001
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Interaction of statin therapy with T2D risk by LDL-C quartile
- Very high LDL-C: statin users had a greater risk than non-users
- P = 0.018
- Other three LDL-C groups: statin therapy did not significantly modify the association between LDL-C and T2D risk
Original publication
A six-year longitudinal study identifies a statin-independent association between low LDL-cholesterol and risk of type 2 diabetes. Cardiovasc Diabetol. Published 11 November 2025. doi:10.
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