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High Cholesterol

information on nutrients, diet, lifestyle & research on treatment

Symptoms   LDL & HDL   Lifestyle   Diet Pluses   Diet Avoids   Supplements   Nutrition/lifestyle discussion

Elevated Serum Cholesterol

High blood cholesterol has historically been connected to a high risk of heart disease but current research suggests that people with high cholesterol are no more likely to experience a heart attack than those without.

Nonetheless, high cholesterol is an indicator of imbalance and should be addressed. Most medical professionals recommend that levels of cholesterol should remain below 200. As levels decrease below 200, risk declines. Many medical providers consider cholesterol levels of no more than 180 to be best.

Diet, lifestyle consideration, exercise and taking specific supplements can all play a major role in managing high cholesterol.

LDL & HDL

Total cholesterol measurements are divided into several types: LDL cholesterol, directly linked to heart disease, and HDL cholesterol, the so-called "good" cholesterol. The proportion of HDL to LDL is more critical than total cholesterol alone. Someone who has high HDL can have a low risk for heart disease even with total cholesterol that is greater than 200. Other high risk factors of heart disease include: high levels of triglycerides, homocysteine levels and high c-reactive protein levels. Consult with your medical professional to assess changes in cholesterol.

It is likely that high levels of homocysteine, linked to LDL in the bloodstream damages the integrity of blood vessel walls making them more vulnerable.

Symptoms

Few Symptoms

High cholesterol rarely causes symptoms. It is usually detected during a routine blood test that measures cholesterol levels. You may first discover it when you are diagnosed with a condition that is caused in part by high cholesterol such as coronary artery disease, stroke or peripheral vascular disease.

Distinct Symptoms

Some people with lipid disorders such as familial hypercholesterolemia may have other distinct symptoms such as deposits of excess cholesterol that collect in the skin or eye tissue. These cholesterol deposits can also cause nodules in tendons in the hands or feet or, rarely, yellow streaks in the hands.

Causes

Causes of high cholesterol vary depending on the lifestyle, gender or the heritage of the individual.

• Weight Americans weigh more now than all of the past ten years combined. With busy careers and children's heavy extra-curricular activities, our tendency is to grab something quick while rushing out the door. While this is convenient and makes life easier for the moment, the long-term effects of a poor diet can be devastating.
• Diet Foods made from saturated fats are a contributing factor to high cholesterol.
• Exercise Lack of exercise in a sedentary lifestyle is another contributing factor.
• Age and Gender Cholesterol levels begin increasing for both men and women as age goes up. Women generally have a lower level than men do between the age of 50 and 55. However, once a woman starts into menopause, the natural occurrence is that the cholesterol level starts to increase.
• Heritage Family genes play a big role in the amount of cholesterol you might have to deal with. If you have a parent that has had to battle with high levels of cholesterol, your chances of following in their footsteps is high.
  If your physician has determined that you have a high level of cholesterol, do some research to determine if other members of your family have this problem. Ask what medications or therapies they have had success with. More than likely, that same method will help you.

Conventional Treatment

Each one of us can do certain things to live healthier, longer lives. One of those choices includes maintaining cholesterol at the right level. However, the truth is even young, thin, physically fit people can have high levels of cholesterol, although chances of higher levels increase due to certain factors. Lifestyle management can change some of these factors while others require a more aggressive approach to include cholesterol lowering medication.

People with high cholesterol are commonly advised to reduce their consumption of dietary cholesterol and saturated fats. In addition, cholesterol-lowering medications, such as bile acid sequestrants and HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitors are often prescribed. For women who have gone through menopause, conventional treatment may also include hormone replacement therapy.

Self Help

Lifestyle

• Exercise: Getting regular exercise has been found to increase protective HDL cholesterol, even if only walking and resulting in a relatively low risk of heart disease. Those patients over 40 or those who have been diagnosed with heart disease should talk to their medical provider before starting an exercise program; too much too fast can trigger heart attacks.^{133, 134}
• Weight loss: Obesity increases risk, partially because weight gain reduces protective HDL cholesterol levels. In addition weight loss reduces the body's ability to make cholesterol, increases HDL, and reduces triglycerides. ^137-140
• Quit smoking: Smoking is tied to low HDL levels and is also known to cause heart disease. Quitting smoking reduces heart attack risk.^142-144
• Stress reduction: Feelings of hostility, time urgency and stress (often referred to as a type A behavior) is a risk factor. Type A men are at higher risk for heart disease in most studies. Stress or type A personalities may elevate cholesterol levels. Reducing stress and feelings of hostility reduces the risk. ^145-151
• Medical researches now consider high levels of c-reactive protein and homocysteine to be a better indication of heart disease risk.

Diet Pluses

Note that some people do not experience significant drops in cholesterol with even large changes in their diet.

• Number and size of meals Total cholesterol levels are reduced when patients eat more small meals compared to the same amount of food in three big meals. While not snacking between meals, which contributes to other problems, it may be helpful for some patients to avoid quite large meals and eat more frequently in smaller quantities.^131-132
• Eat soy: (30 grams per day of soy protein) Tofu, tempeh, miso, and some protein powders in health food stores are derived from soybeans. Isoflavones from soybeans reduce both total and LDL cholesterol.^62-71
• Low-fat foods: Skimmed milk, non-fat cheese and non-fat yogurt are pretty much fat-free. But the "low-fat" milk products are not really very low in fat. 25% of the calories from 2% milk comes from fat (the volume of fat, not the % of calories). Furthermore and controversially, a few researchers suspect that homogenized milk may be a culprit. It contains broken-apart particles of indigestible xanthine oxidase thought to destroy plasmalogen, a protective membrane fat permitting damage to the lining of blood vessels which are then more susceptible to accumulating plaque.^{316, 317} But fat may be the bigger issue.
• Eat fish which increases HDL cholesterol, has little saturated fat and is tied to a lower risk of heart disease in most studies. Fatty fish such as salmon, mackerel and many small fish like herring contain EPA and DHA, omega-3 fatty acids that have been suggested in research studies to reduce heart disease risk.^20-22
• Eat vegetables: Vegetarians have been found to have less heart disease and lower cholesterol than meat eaters, partly because their diet does not include animal fat. Vegans have the lowest cholesterol levels, and going on such a diet has reversed heart disease in some studies. Dr. Dean Ornish's books are the classic guides to balanced vegetarian and vegan diets.^24-28
• Use olive oil which is high in monounsaturated fatty acids. Use it to replace saturated fat which can result in lowering LDL cholesterol. People from countries that use olive oil rather than saturated fats have been studied as showing a lower risk for heart disease. Although olive oil is safer for those with high cholesterol, it is still very high in calories, and so should be limited in overweight people.^88-92
• Fiber (20 grams per day for several months). In most studies, soluble fiber from oats, beans, psyllium seed and fruit pectin has reduced cholesterol levels. Medical professionals often recommend that those with high cholesterol eat more of these foods. However, even insoluble grain fiber which does not lower cholesterol has been linked to lower risk of high cholesterol.^35-41
• Glucomannan is a water-soluble edible fiber that comes from konjac root. Double blind research has demonstrated that glucomannan supplementation markedly reduces total blood cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and triglycerides, and in some cases raises HDL cholesterol. Effective amounts of glucomannan for lowering blood cholesterol have been 4-13gm daily.^152-155
• Flaxseed is another good source of soluble fiber and has been reported to lower cholesterol. The cholesterol-lowering component in flaxseed is likely to be the fiber and not the oil. Thus, it makes sense to use partially defatted flaxseed instead of whole flaxseed or flaxseed oil to lower cholesterol.^{56, 321, 322}
• Limit Alcohol Although it had been widely accepted by researchers that drinking (1-2 drinks daily) increased the protecting HDL form of cholesterol, it is now known that moderate alcohol use, including red wine is not beneficial.¹ Alcohol metabolizes into acetaldehyde, a chemical that damages DNA and affects many parts of the body. It also raises the levels of triglycerides in the blood and consumption can cause liver disease, high blood pressure,² cancer,³ alcoholism, and at high intake, an increased risk of heart disease.
• Eating garlic has been reported in some (but not all) related research studies. Garlic behaves like a blood thinner and may reduce other risk factors as well. Medical providers typically suggest eating garlic as food, taking 900mg garlic powder (capsules providing 5,000-6,000mcg of allicin), or using a tincture of 2-4ml 3 times a day. Individuals taking warfarin should consult a healthcare practitioner before taking garlic supplements. Enteric coated garlic tablets appear more promising.^285-296
• Green tea (Camellia sinensis) intake, about three cups per day (providing 240-320 mg of polyphenols), can help lower cholesterol.^297-301
• Eat nuts: Research consistently shows that people who frequently eat nuts have a dramatically reduced risk of heart disease, probably because nut consumption lowers cholesterol levels. Of nuts commonly consumed, almonds and walnuts may be the most effective at lowering cholesterol and macadamia nuts may be least beneficial. Hazelnuts and pistachio nuts may also help lower cholesterol.^111-140 Roasted nuts rather than raw nuts is recommended as roasting reduces the risk of the oils in the nuts going rancid.
  According to Ayurvedic medicine another good treatment of nuts to enhance their healthy benefit is to soak them overnight in water, and then dry them at low temperature (ie 115°) for a few hours. This makes them lighter and more digestible .
  But in any case, the quantity of nuts, because they are high-fat, should be limited to a small handful, ie, 8-10 walnuts, daily.
• Coffee Evidence is mixed, but generally accepted that coffee consumption (more than 1 cup a day) increases total cholesterol, although paper-filtered and expresso and decaffeinated coffee may have less impact. Drink coffee with lunch or dinner rather than breakfast. Since preservatives, pesticides flavorings and other chemical components added to coffee might be responsible for some results, drink organic coffee.
• Drink chicory instead of coffee which reduces cholesterol levels and increases the ratio of HDL to LDL in animal tests.³¹⁹

Diet Avoidances

• Avoid large meals: Additionally, don't gorge. Nibble rather than gobbling it down - eat slowly^131-132
• Avoid sugar: Eating sugar has been reported to reduce protective HDL cholesterol and slightly increase (worsen) other risk factors linked to heart disease. ^72-74
• Dietary Fats: Reduce saturated fats that increase risk from animals. Significant quantities of saturated fat are found in veal, pork, beef, poultry (especially poultry skins and dark meat), palm oil, coconut oil, butter, cheese, ice cream, and other forms of dairy products that are not labeled fat-free. ^1-8
• Avoid trans fatty acids: TFAs are an ingredient in many processed foods made with hydrogenated oils. Margarine has the highest levels of TFAs and consumption increases the ratio of LDL to HDL. Margarine and other processed foods containing partially hydrogenated oils should be avoided. ^93-94
• Reduce egg consumption: Although eating eggs may not increase cholesterol if the overall diet is low in fat, doing so increases total blood cholesterol levels in most studies. Moreover, when cholesterol from eggs is cooked or exposed to air, it oxidizes. Oxidized cholesterol is linked to increased risk of heart disease. ^{29, 31-24}

Key nutritional supplements

• Vitamin B3 High amounts (several grams per day) of niacin, a form of vitamin B3, lower cholesterol. The other common form of B3 niacinamide does not. Some cardiologists recommend 3gm of niacin daily for those with high cholesterol levels. At such high levels acute flushing, stomachaches and headaches may occur. Liver damage, gastritis, diabetes, eye damage and possibly gout toxicity may also result. Therefore these high levels might bring discomfort or danger to one's health. High intakes of niacin must only be taken under the supervision of a your qualified medical professional.^180-187
• Vitamin B5 - Pantethine is a form of vitamin B5 which markedly lowers blood cholesterol and increases HDL.
• Vitamin C is shown in trials to protect LDL from oxidative damage.
• Beta-glucan is a soluble fiber molecule the comes from cell walls of oats, baker's yeast, barley and medicinal mushrooms such as maitake mushrooms. Beta-glucan is the key factor for the cholesterol-lowering effect of oat bran. For lowering cholesterol levels, the amount of beta-glucan used has ranged from 2,900 to 15,000 mg per day. Researchers have found that its beneficial effects appear to be negated in cooked foods.³¹⁸
• Beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate (HMB): lowers total and LDL cholesterol in 9 trials.
• Chromium/brewer's yeast (200 mcg daily; true brewer's yeast contains up to 60mcg of chromium/tablespoon, and a reasonable intake is 2 tablespoons daily). Chromium supplementation has been found to reduce LDL cholesterol and increase HDL cholesterol in human studies. Brewer's yeast, which contains readily absorbable chromium, has also lowered serum cholesterol. To use brewer's yeast as a chromium source look for products specifically labeled "from the brewing process" or "brewer's yeast," because most yeast found in health food stores is not brewer's yeast and does not contain chromium.^169-179
• Olive leaf extract found to help lower both total and LDL cholesterol and triglycerides.

Other nutritional supplements that may be helpful

• Calcium
• Copper
• Flaxseed: (raw, defatted) 15 grams per day.
• Inositol hexaniacinate (500-1,000 mg three times per day instead of niacin): People should not take niacin, including inositol hexaniacinate, without the supervision of a healthcare provider.
• Royal jelly: Royal jelly has prevented the cholesterol-elevating effect of nicotine and has lowered serum cholesterol in animal studies. Preliminary human trials have also found that royal jelly may lower cholesterol levels. An analysis of cholesterol-lowering trials shows that 50 to 100 mg per day is the typical amount used in such research.
• Tocotrienols: 200 mg per day.

Key herbs

• Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) powder: 10-30 grams three times per day with meals.
• Guggul (Commiphora mukul) (providing 25 mg of guggulsterones three times per day for at least 12 weeks): Guggul is a mixture of substances taken from the plant Commiphora mukul. Guggul extract has been shown to lower total cholesterol and raise HDL cholesterol. Daily intakes of guggul are based on the amount of guggulsterones in the extract. Most extracts contain 5-10% guggulsterones.
• Psyllium (Plantago ovata, Plantago ispaghula) (5-10 grams added to the diet per day to lower cholesterol levels): Use of psyllium has been extensively studied as a way to reduce cholesterol levels.An analysis of all double-blind studies concluded that psyllium lowered cholesterol levels by 5% and LDL cholesterol by 9%.
• Red yeast rice (Monascus purpureus) (1.2-2.4 grams [5-10 mg monacolins] per day in divided amounts for at least 12 weeks): A proprietary red yeast product (Cholestin®) contains ten different compounds called monacolins that inhibit cholesterol synthesis. One of these compounds is lovastatin (Mevacor®), a prescription drug used to reduce cholesterol levels. Although lovastatin occurs naturally in red yeast rice, the sale of Cholestin has been banned in the United States, as a result of a lawsuit alleging patent infringement. Other red yeast rice products currently on the market differ from Cholestin in their chemical makeup and some contain a potentially toxic compound called citrinin. Until further information is available, red yeast rice products other than Cholestin cannot be recommended.

Other herbs that may be helpful

• Achillea wilhelmsii: In one study, patients with elevated cholesterol took a tincture of Achillea wilhelmsii, a traditional Persian herbal medicine. The patients used 15-20 drops of the tincture 2 times a day for 6 months. At trial's end the subjects had marked reductions in total cholesterol, triglycerides, and LDL cholesterol, as well as an increase in HDL cholesterol, compared to placebo. No side effects were reported.
• Artichoke (Cynara scolymus) (320 mg of standardized leaf extract two to three times per day for at least six weeks): Artichoke has moderately lowered cholesterol and triglycerides in some, but not all, reports.

High Cholesterol News

Want to learn more? See our blog news on cholesterol.

Footnotes & Research

1. Wood AM, Kaptoge S, Butterworth AS, Willeit P, Warnakula S, et al. (2018). Risk thresholds for alcohol consumption: combined analysis of individual-participant data for 599 912 current drinkers in 83 prospective studies. Lancet. Apr 14;391(10129):1513-1523.
2. Biddinger KJ, Emdin CA, Haas ME, Wang M, Hindy G, et al. (2022). Association of Habitual Alcohol Intake With Risk of Cardiovascular Disease. JAMA Netw Open. 2022 Mar 1;5(3):e223849
3. Goding Sauer A, Fedewa SA, Bandi P, Minihan AK, Stoklosa M, et al. (2021). Proportion of cancer cases and deaths attributable to alcohol consumption by US state, 2013-2016. Cancer Epidemiol. Apr;71(Pt A):101893.

Footnotes & research for lifestyle, vitamins and nutrients and treatment of high cholesterol

More Footnotes

316. Oster, K., Oster, J., and Ross, D. "Immune Response to Bovine Xanthine Oxidase in Atherosclerotic Patients." American Laboratory, August, 1974, 41-47
317. Oster, K., and Ross, D. "The Presence of Ectopic Xanthine Oxidase in Atherosclerotic Plaques and Myocardial Tissues." Proceedings of the Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine, 1973.
318. Cholesterol-lowering effect of beta-glucan from oat bran in mildly hypercholesterolemic subjects may decrease when beta-glucan is incorporated into bread and cookies.
319. Journal of Nutrition, vol.128, pgs.1731-6, by Drs. Meehye Kim & Hyun Kyong Shin, Korea Food and Drug Administration and the Dept. of Food, Science and Nutrition, Hallym U., Chunchon, Korea
320. Coffee intake and cardiovascular disease: virtue does not take center stage, Montagnana M., et al, Seminars in Thrombosis and Hemostatis, March, 2012, 38(2), 164-177.
321. Reibiro C, da Costa CA, Alves Pereira V, Teles Boaventura G, Alves Chagas M. (2014). Effects of flaxseed flour on the lipid profile of rats submitted to prolonged androgen stimuli. Nutr Hosp. Oct 1;30(4):825-30. 322.Kristensen M, Jensen MG, Aarestrup J, Petersen KE, Sendergaard L, et al. (2012). Flaxseed dietary fibers lowers cholesterol and increase fecal fat excretion, but magnitude of effect depends on food type. Nutr Metab (Lond). Feb 3;9:8.