A study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology revealed that high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol may not be effective in "uniformly predicting the risk of cardiovascular disease" in adults of all races and ethnic backgrounds. In the National Institutes of Health (NIH)-supported study, the researchers observed that low levels of HDL cholesterol predicted an increased risk of heart attacks or related deaths for white adults, but the same pattern was not true for black adults.

In the study, researchers from the Knight Cardiovascular Institute at Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, reviewed data from 23,901 adults who participated in the Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke Study (REGARDS). They found that lower HDL cholesterol levels only predicted increased cardiovascular disease risk for white adults.

Additionally, the researchers explored different theories about the role of HDL cholesterol in supporting heart health. One of the theories was quality over quantity. According to the theory, instead of having more HDL, the quality of HDL′s function instead of its amount in the body plays an important role in health. The good quality of HDL is associated with the pickup and transportation of excess cholesterol from the body for good cardiovascular health. 

(Source: https://www.daijiworld.com/news/newsDisplay?newsID=1022163 )