Myths about cholesterol – who are at risk, statin treatment, diet [EXPLAINED]

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When is cholesterol harmful? Does its level always depend on the diet? How is LDL different from HDL? There are many myths about cholesterol that are only the result of selective reliance on medical knowledge. On the one hand, cholesterol is crucial for the proper functioning of the body, on the other hand, it is said to have a detrimental effect on the circulatory system. How is it really?

1. Cholesterol is a word that sounds ominous. But in itself, it’s not bad at all
2. It is an organic compound that takes part in many important processes in the body. The problem arises only when we have excess cholesterol
3. Unhygienic lifestyle and an unhealthy diet contribute to excessively high cholesterol levels
4. More information can be found on the Onet homepage.

Do we need cholesterol?

Cholesterol is an organic compound found in human tissues and plasma. It is commonly said about the harmfulness of cholesterol, but the problem arises only when the concentration of this compound in the blood is exceeded. Maintained at the right level of cholesterol performs very important functions in the body.

First of all, cholesterol is present in the structure of cell membranes (including nerve cells), it is also a component of bile, and is also involved in the synthesis of vitamin D3, testosterone, progesterone, estrogens and corticosteroids. There is also an enormous amount of cholesterol in the brain, which may be important for the metabolic processes taking place within this organ.

Although cholesterol is so important to the body, it is extremely common to hear only about the negative effects of excess cholesterol. This is not surprising because cardiovascular diseases caused by excess cholesterol (e.g. atherosclerosis) are among the major modern causes of death.

When considering the importance of cholesterol for health, one should not forget about its two basic fractions:

1. HDL cholesterol – high-density lipoprotein, a fraction popularly known as good cholesterol; reduces the retention of cholesterol particles in the vessel walls and transports them to the liver, thereby reducing the risk of atherosclerosis;
2. LDL cholesterol – low-density lipoprotein, transports cholesterol particles from the liver to the cells of the body, known as bad cholesterol; LDL cholesterol fraction is produced in the liver, but we additionally deliver it to the body together with products rich in animal fats; it is LDL that is considered to be one of the important factors that increase the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Not sure what your cholesterol level is? Check. Do a blood lipid test.

While testing your cholesterol you should bother too high level of LDL and total cholesterol. However, there is no upper limit of the norm for HDL cholesterol, and higher levels of it are considered beneficial to health. A special case may be the level of non-HDL cholesterol below normal – such a result usually indicates liver or thyroid disease, as well as anemia.

Also, check what non-HDL cholesterol is

High cholesterol – who is it at risk?

Cholesterol above the upper limit of normal is a condition called hypercholesterolaemia. Although you can expect that elevated cholesterol it only threatens overweight, obese, sedentary and unhealthy diets, it is only a myth.

Yes, there are hypercholesterolemia caused by environmental factors (diet), smoking, drugs, hypothyroidism, kidney disease and metabolic syndrome. In addition, in the vast majority of patients, abnormalities related to cholesterol levels become more visible with age. However, the risk of serious cardiovascular diseases also affects slim and active people who do not expect it at all. Hypercholesterolaemia may be genetically determined and affect children as young as a few years – then we are dealing with family hypercholesterolaemia.

We have a group of patients who are born with elevated cholesterol levels. What does it mean? They lead a healthy lifestyle, and yet have high cholesterol, because they are born with a mutated gene.

There are two types of disease among people suffering from a genetic disorder of cholesterol levels:

1. heterozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia – this is a more common variant of the disease, it may indicate an LDL above 190 and cases of sudden death in the family in middle-aged people (men younger than 55, women under 60); in the case of heterozygotes, the development of coronary artery disease may appear between the ages of 30 and 50;
2. homozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia – a serious disease that causes the development of atherosclerosis in children and may result in a heart attack even before the age of 10; in children with this condition, LDL cholesterol levels can be as high as 500.

In Poland, there is a lack of adequate diagnostics that would enable the diagnosis of familial hypercholesterolaemia in children. As Dr. Broncel notes, a total cholesterol measurement would suffice, preferably taking into account the LDL fraction, but no child’s health balance takes this test into account.

Dietary supplements can help keep cholesterol in check. Plant extracts also support the work of the circulatory system. Try cholesterol dietary supplements.

Statins – lower cholesterol and cause diabetes?

In the treatment of hypercholesterolaemia, statins are used, that is drugs that lower plasma cholesterolas well as reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease. A myth spread among patients about the harmfulness of statins and the dangerous side effects of which diabetes is often mentioned. It should be noted here that taking any drug has potential side effects, and caution is advised even with popular painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs.

A doctor prescribing drugs that are burdensome for the body always takes into account whether the benefits of taking a given preparation outweigh the possible risk of complications.

1. You don’t trust statins? Check what the statin scandal was all about

While Dr. Broncel confirms that statins taken in high doses rarely increase the risk of developing diabetes, it is a reminder of the undeniable benefits of treatment. Statins inhibit the development of atherosclerotic processes and, as a result of long-term treatment, lead to the regression of atherosclerosis, which is a priority in patients with an increased risk of cerebral ischemia or coronary artery disease.

In therapy aimed at lowering high cholesterol, the patient and the doctor aim not so much to obtain satisfactory test results, but to lower the risk of cardiovascular diseases, including strokes and heart attacks.

Cholesterol depends on diet – truth or myth?

The diet actually has some effect on the cholesterol levels in the body. Contrary to popular belief, it is not about eating foods with a high cholesterol content, because the absorption of this compound by our digestive system is limited to 25-30%. More important are the nutrients that we bring to the body along with food products because they affect LDL cholesterol metabolism. The key turns out to be a diversified diet and the inclusion of foods rich in antioxidants, dietary fiber, phospholipids and phytosterols in the menu. The risk of atherosclerosis increases in people who consume highly processed foods, containing trans fats and large amounts of saturated fatty acids.

Lowering cholesterol is a complex process in which drugs play a major role. This does not mean that other factors are irrelevant, and usually a change in diet is implemented in parallel with pharmacological treatment. Modification of the diet affects the level of LDL within approx. 15%.

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