Cholesterol is found in every cell of the body and has important natural functions. It is manufactured by the body but can also be taken in from food. It is waxy and fat-
like in appearance.
Cholesterol is oil-based and so does not mix with the blood, which is water-based. It is therefore carried around the body in the blood by lipoproteins.
The parcels of cholesterol are carried by two types of lipoprotein:
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL - cholesterol carried by this type is known as 'bad' cholesterol)
High-density lipoprotein (HDL - cholesterol carried by this type is known as 'good' cholesterol).
High-density lipoprotein (HDL - cholesterol carried by this type is known as 'good' cholesterol).
Cholesterol has four main functions, without which we could not live.
Contributes to the structure of cell walls
Makes up digestive bile acids in the intestine
Allows the body to produce vitamin D
Enables the body to make certain hormones.
Recent developments on cholesterol from MNT news
Dementia health also affected by cholesterol levels. The balance of LDL and HDL cholesterol levels is important not just for heart health but for brain health too, according to a December 2013 study. The research, published in JAMA Neurology, found that control of cholesterol reduced the brain plaques linked to Alzheimer's disease.
High cholesterol linked to infertility - prospective parents with high cholesterol levels could be in for a long wait to become pregnant, a new study published in the Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism states.
Study links high LDL cholesterol to aortic valve disease - a study published in JAMA claims to have found evidence to support a causal association between high levels of "bad" cholesterol and aortic valve stenosis - a form of aortic valve disease in which the valve is narrowed, restricting blood flow from the heart.
High cholesterol linked to infertility - prospective parents with high cholesterol levels could be in for a long wait to become pregnant, a new study published in the Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism states.
Study links high LDL cholesterol to aortic valve disease - a study published in JAMA claims to have found evidence to support a causal association between high levels of "bad" cholesterol and aortic valve stenosis - a form of aortic valve disease in which the valve is narrowed, restricting blood flow from the heart.
Cholesterol diet
The support charity for people with high cholesterol, HEART UK, has identified "six super foods" that actively lower cholesterol levels:
Soya foods (15g a day) - soya milk, soya desserts, soya meat alternatives, soya nuts, edamame beans and tofu
Nuts - a handful a day
Oats and barley - providing the soluble fiber beta glucan
Plant sterols/stanols - found in a wide range of foods
Soya foods (15g a day) - soya milk, soya desserts, soya meat alternatives, soya nuts, edamame beans and tofu
Nuts - a handful a day
Oats and barley - providing the soluble fiber beta glucan
Plant sterols/stanols - found in a wide range of foods
Fruits and vegetables
Foods rich in unsaturated fats - for example, canola and vegetable oils.
Go to the charity's website for more information about foods that are good for cholesterol levels. HEART UK also lists foods that are bad for cholesterol levels:
Butter
Ghee
Hard margarines
Lard
Fatty and processed meat
Dairy fats.
Go to the charity's website for more information about foods that are good for cholesterol levels. HEART UK also lists foods that are bad for cholesterol levels:
Butter
Ghee
Hard margarines
Lard
Fatty and processed meat
Dairy fats.
What causes high cholesterol?
High cholesterol or hypercholesterolemia is also known as hyperlipidemia and dyslipidemia.4 It is a major risk factor for coronary heart disease, a cause of heart attacks, and reducing blood lipid levels lowers the cardiovascular risk.
High levels of LDL lead to a build-up of cholesterol in the arteries, whereas HDL carries cholesterol to the liver for removal from the body.2 A build-up of cholesterol forms part of the process that narrows arteries, called atherosclerosis, in which plaques form and cause restriction of blood flow.
Two types of cause lead to high cholesterol levels - modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors. The major two risk factors are highly modifiable - something can be done to change them:
Diet
Exercise and weight.
Limiting intake of fat in the diet helps manage cholesterol levels, limiting foods, in particular, that contain:
Exercise and weight.
Limiting intake of fat in the diet helps manage cholesterol levels, limiting foods, in particular, that contain:
Food sources of cholesterol
Meat, cheese and egg yolks are sources of cholesterol.
Cholesterol (from animal foods, such as egg yolks, meat and cheese)
Saturated fat (found in some meats, dairy products, chocolate, baked goods, and deep-fried and processed foods)
Trans fat (found in some fried and processed foods).
Being overweight or obese can lead to higher blood LDL levels so exercise can help manage this risk factor.2
Cholesterol (from animal foods, such as egg yolks, meat and cheese)
Saturated fat (found in some meats, dairy products, chocolate, baked goods, and deep-fried and processed foods)
Trans fat (found in some fried and processed foods).
Being overweight or obese can lead to higher blood LDL levels so exercise can help manage this risk factor.2
The primary causes of hyper lipidemia are genetic - very high LDL levels are found in the inherited condition familial hyper cholesterolemia. Other genetic conditions passed down from parents are: familial combined hyper lipidemia, familial dysbeta lipoproteinemia and familial hyper triglyceridemia
Abnormal cholesterol levels may also be secondary to the following:
Diabetes
Liver or kidney disease
Polycystic ovary syndrome
Pregnancy and other conditions that increase levels of female hormones
Underactive thyroid gland.
Drugs that increase LDL cholesterol and decrease HDL cholesterol (progestins, anabolic steroids and corticosteroids).
Liver or kidney disease
Polycystic ovary syndrome
Pregnancy and other conditions that increase levels of female hormones
Underactive thyroid gland.
Drugs that increase LDL cholesterol and decrease HDL cholesterol (progestins, anabolic steroids and corticosteroids).
Fast facts on cholesterol
Here are some key facts about cholesterol. Find more detail and supporting information in the article.
Cholesterol is an essential substance that is produced by the body but is also available from foods.
The greatest risk factors for high cholesterol are modifiable lifestyle choices - diet and exercise.
High cholesterol levels can be inherited with the genetic condition, familial hyper cholesterolemia.
Cholesterol is an essential substance that is produced by the body but is also available from foods.
The greatest risk factors for high cholesterol are modifiable lifestyle choices - diet and exercise.
High cholesterol levels can be inherited with the genetic condition, familial hyper cholesterolemia.
Having high cholesterol does not produce any symptoms.
Cholesterol levels should be blood-tested once every five years.
First-line ways to reduce cholesterol involve lifestyle changes.
If lifestyle changes are unsuccessful or cholesterol levels are very high, lipid-lowering drugs such as statins may be prescribed.
High cholesterol levels are an important contributor in the calculation of an individual's risk of having a heart attack within the next ten years.
Cholesterol levels should be blood-tested once every five years.
First-line ways to reduce cholesterol involve lifestyle changes.
If lifestyle changes are unsuccessful or cholesterol levels are very high, lipid-lowering drugs such as statins may be prescribed.
High cholesterol levels are an important contributor in the calculation of an individual's risk of having a heart attack within the next ten years.
Signs and symptoms of high cholesterol
Having high cholesterol levels, while a risk factor for other conditions, does not itself present any signs or symptoms.2,7 Unless routinely screened through regular blood testing, high cholesterol levels will go unnoticed and could present a silent threat of heart attack or stroke.
Cholesterol tests and diagnosis
High cholesterol can only be diagnosed by blood testing. Doctors' guidelines state that everyone over the age of 20 years should have their cholesterol levels checked once every five years.
High cholesterol can only be diagnosed by blood testing. Doctors' guidelines state that everyone over the age of 20 years should have their cholesterol levels checked once every five years.
The cholesterol test is done after a period of fasting - no food, drink or pills for 9 to 12 hours - to enable an accurate reading of LDL cholesterol from the blood test.8 The screening also gives information about total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels.
The guidelines set cholesterol levels that help determine the individual heart risk, as follows:
LDL cholesterol
Optimal: less than 100 mg/dL
Near-optimal: 100 to 129 mg/dL
Borderline high: 130 to 159 mg/dL
High: 160 to 189 mg/dL
Very high: 190 mg/dL and above.
Guidance is also set out for the other measures in the lipid profile:6
Near-optimal: 100 to 129 mg/dL
Borderline high: 130 to 159 mg/dL
High: 160 to 189 mg/dL
Very high: 190 mg/dL and above.
Guidance is also set out for the other measures in the lipid profile:6
Total cholesterol
Desirable: less than 200 mg/dL
Borderline high: between 200-239 mg/dL
High: 240 mg/dL or above.
Borderline high: between 200-239 mg/dL
High: 240 mg/dL or above.
HDL cholesterol
Low: below 40 mg/dL
High: 60 mg/dL or above.
High: 60 mg/dL or above.
Treatment and prevention of high cholesterol
Four changes to lifestyle are recommended for all people with high cholesterol levels - including those receiving drug treatment - in order to reduce the risk of coronary heart disease and heart attack:5,
Couple exercising
Exercise is one lifestyle measure that can reduce cholesterol levels.
Eat a 'heart-healthy diet' (for example, use low-fat toppings and sauces, and avoid foods high in saturated fat; eat vegetables, fruits and fiber-rich whole grains)
Take regular exercise
Avoid smoking
Keep a healthy weight.
Eat a 'heart-healthy diet' (for example, use low-fat toppings and sauces, and avoid foods high in saturated fat; eat vegetables, fruits and fiber-rich whole grains)
Take regular exercise
Avoid smoking
Keep a healthy weight.
Lipid-lowering therapy
The lipid-lowering goal of drug treatment for an individual with hypercholesterolemia will depend on their individual cholesterol level and other risk factors, but statin treatment is generally reserved for people with a higher risk of heart attack, and diet and exercise are the first line in lipid-lowering therapy.6
The cholesterol levels at which diet and exercise intervention is recommended range between 100 mg/dL and 160 mg/dL - the lower level when other risk factors are present.
Anticholesterol drugs such as statins are recommended, depending on the overall heart risk, when cholesterol levels are between 130 mg/dL and 190 mg/dL.
Statins (also known as HMG CoA reductase inhibitors) are the main group of anticholesterol drugs; the others are selective cholesterol absorption inhibitors, resins, fibrates and niacin.10
The statins available on prescription in the US include:
Atorvastatin (brand named Lipitor)
Fluvastatin (Lescol)
Lovastatin (Mevacor, Altoprev)
Pravastatin (Pravachol)
Rosuvastatin calcium (Crestor)
Simvastatin (Zocor).
Fluvastatin (Lescol)
Lovastatin (Mevacor, Altoprev)
Pravastatin (Pravachol)
Rosuvastatin calcium (Crestor)
Simvastatin (Zocor).
Recent developments in statin treatment
Statin benefits outweigh risks. One of the biggest studies to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the anticholesterol drugs statins has found that side-effects do not occur routinely and are outweighed by benefits. The study looked at data from 135 studies published between 1985 and 2013.
Ten-year risk of a heart attack
Cholesterol levels play a major part in an individual's risk of having a heart attack within the next ten years. The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute provide an online calculator of cardiovascular risk. Using research evidence, it weighs the risk dictated by these factors:
Age
Sex
Cholesterol levels
Smoking status
Blood pressure.
Monitoring the ten-year risk according to data from the Framingham Heart Study, which continues today, helps in the management of lifestyle and other measures to reduce cholesterol levels, and so cut the chances of cardiovascular disease leading to heart attack or stroke.
Sex
Cholesterol levels
Smoking status
Blood pressure.
Monitoring the ten-year risk according to data from the Framingham Heart Study, which continues today, helps in the management of lifestyle and other measures to reduce cholesterol levels, and so cut the chances of cardiovascular disease leading to heart attack or stroke.
BAD (LDL CHOLESTEROL) VS.GOOD (HDL CHOLESTEROL)
What's the Difference between "Good" and "Bad" Cholesterol?
LDL (low density lipoprotein) cholesterol is known as bad cholesterol because it can build up on the walls of your arteries and increase your chances of getting cardiovascular disease. As the cholesterol passes through the arteries, some of it gets left behind in the form of plaque. As the flow of blood to your heart decreases, the heart gets less oxygen. Angina, heart attack or coronary heart disease can follow.
When you think about lowering cholesterol think LDL. This is the type of cholesterol your Doctor is concerned about and that’s why your first priority is to lower and control LDL cholesterol. Find out how to lower LDL (the bad) cholesterol by 42% percent without any side effects.
When you think about lowering cholesterol think LDL. This is the type of cholesterol your Doctor is concerned about and that’s why your first priority is to lower and control LDL cholesterol. Find out how to lower LDL (the bad) cholesterol by 42% percent without any side effects.
HDL (high density lipoprotein) cholesterol is often called “good" cholesterol because a high level of it seems to protect you against heart attack. Some experts believe that HDL removes excess cholesterol from plaque in arteries, thus slowing the buildup. People with a low HDL cholesterol level (less than 40 mg/dL) have a much higher risk of heart disease. A low level of HDL cholesterol may also put you at risk of a stroke. When you are tested for high cholesterol, you want a high HDL number ( above 50) and a low LDL number ideally under 185.
Even small increases in HDL (good) cholesterol can reduce your risk of heart attack. For each 1 mg/dl increase in HDL cholesterol there is a 2 to 4% reduction in the risk of coronary heart disease. Although there are no formal government guidelines, a helpful chart showing risk levels for men and women can be seen here.
The Triglyceride Connection
Triglyceride is a form of fat. It comes from food and is also made in your body. People with high triglycerides often have a high total cholesterol level with high triglyceride levels. People with diabetes or who are obese are also likely to have high triglycerides. If your triglyceride levels are less than 150 mg/dL you are normal; if your triglyceride levels are between 150–199 you are borderline high. If your triglyceride evels are above (200–499 mg/dL) you may need treatment.
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