CholesterolA steroid alcohol found in most body tissues, including the ... has gotten so much recent press that I feel it is a topic that needs to be addressed. Last month, a 6 year Finnish study of 9,000 men concluded that the cholesterolA steroid alcohol found in most body tissues, including the ... lowering medication, atorvastatin and simvastatin, increased the risk of Type 2 diabetes by up to 46% – the higher the dosage, the greater the risk. It appears that statins “increase a person’s insulin resistance” and also “impair the ability of the pancreas to secrete insulinA hormone produced in the pancreas by the islets of Langerha....” And now, the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (DGAC) is saying that “cholesterolA steroid alcohol found in most body tissues, including the ... is not considered a nutrient of concern for overconsumption.” So what is going on? CholesterolA steroid alcohol found in most body tissues, including the ... lowering medication is causing a disease (diabetesA metabolic disease in which the body's inability to produce...) that can lead to a disease (heart disease) that it was originally trying to prevent? And we shouldn’t be concerned about having too much cholesterolA steroid alcohol found in most body tissues, including the ... in our diets? It seems that everything about cholesterolA steroid alcohol found in most body tissues, including the ... originally ingrained in our knowledge has done a complete 180. Let’s get the facts straight.
CholesterolA steroid alcohol found in most body tissues, including the ... 101 – What is it and why do we need it?
- Cholesterol is not a fat, but a steroid alcohol that is not water soluble. Around 75% of the cholesterolA steroid alcohol found in most body tissues, including the ... in our bodies is produced in the liver while the other 25% comes from food.
- CholesterolA steroid alcohol found in most body tissues, including the ... is essential for the production of all our cell membranes, bileA thick, bitter fluid stored in the gallbladder and secreted... acids (for digestion, fat metabolism, and elimination of cholesterolA steroid alcohol found in most body tissues, including the ...), sex hormonesA substance produced in the endocrine glands and transported... (such as testosteroneA steroid hormone that stimulates development of male second..., estrogenA group of steroid hormones that promote the development and..., progesteroneAn endogenous steroid hormone involved in the menstrual cycl... More), adrenal hormonesA substance produced in the endocrine glands and transported... (such as cortisolA steroid hormone and glucocorticoid produced in humans by t..., DHEAAn important endogenous and the most abundant circulating st..., aldosteroneA steroid hormone and mineralocorticoid produced by the oute...), and VitaminAny of a group of organic compounds that are essential for n... D (read more about VitaminAny of a group of organic compounds that are essential for n... D here).
- It maintains structure in our cells and blood vessels, and regulates protein pathways for cell signaling and communication between all our cells.
- It is essential in our nervous systems, helping us with learning, memory, and cognitive function.
Our brains, which constitute only 2% of our body weight, contain 25% of the cholesterolA steroid alcohol found in most body tissues, including the ... in our bodies, and most of that 25% is made in our brains when we sleep. This is why babies sleep so much — while they sleep their brains are making more cholesterolA steroid alcohol found in most body tissues, including the ... to help them grow and develop. Infants and toddlers also need adequate amounts of cholesterolA steroid alcohol found in most body tissues, including the ... in their diets for proper brain development. For the elderly, it was found that those with high cholesterolA steroid alcohol found in most body tissues, including the ... in their brains had the best memory function, while those with low cholesterolA steroid alcohol found in most body tissues, including the ... had a higher risk for depression and even death! For all of us in between, it goes without saying that we also need cholesterolA steroid alcohol found in most body tissues, including the ... to function properly.
Ok, so now we have established that cholesterolA steroid alcohol found in most body tissues, including the ... is very important and ESSENTIAL to life.
If cholesterolA steroid alcohol found in most body tissues, including the ... is so good, why do statinsStatins are a class of drugs used to lower cholesterol level... even exist??
Let’s define the main components that make up cholesterolA steroid alcohol found in most body tissues, including the ....
LDL – This is the “bad cholesterolA steroid alcohol found in most body tissues, including the ...” contributing to plaque build up in your arteries causing them to harden, also known as atherosclerosisA disease of the arteries characterized by the deposition of.... If a blood clot forms and blocks a narrowed artery, then a heart attack or stroke may result. However, what is not commonly known is that there is “good” LDL and “bad” LDL as well. According to Dr. Ron Rosedale, M.D.:
“LDL particles come in many sizes and large LDL particles are not a problem. Only the so-called small dense LDL particles can potentially be a problem, because they can squeeze through the lining of the arteries and if they oxidize, otherwise known as turning rancid, they can cause damage and inflammation.”
HDL – This is the good cholesterolA steroid alcohol found in most body tissues, including the ... that carries LDL away from the arteries and back to the liver where it is processed and eliminated.
Triglycerides – This is fat that contributes to atherosclerosisA disease of the arteries characterized by the deposition of.... It is caused by being overweight or obese, lack of exercise, alcohol, smoking, and a diet high in carbohydrates (more than 60% of total calories). High triglycerides are actually a higher risk factor than LDL for developing diabetesA metabolic disease in which the body's inability to produce... and heart disease. (You’ll see why in a second).
VLDL – Very low density lipoproteins are considered bad cholesterols.
Lipoprotein (a) or Lp(a) are made up of LDL plus a protein (apoprotein a). High levels of Lp(a) also contribute to diabetesA metabolic disease in which the body's inability to produce... and heart disease.
Total cholesterolA steroid alcohol found in most body tissues, including the ... (TC) is the sum of all the above components.
So how do statinsStatins are a class of drugs used to lower cholesterol level... work?
StatinsStatins are a class of drugs used to lower cholesterol level... block the synthesis of cholesterolA steroid alcohol found in most body tissues, including the ... by inhibiting an enzyme in the liver called HMG-CoA reductaseThe rate-controlling enzyme of the mevalonate pathway, the m.... This enzyme is what controls the production of cholesterolA steroid alcohol found in most body tissues, including the ... in the liver.
The problem is that HMG-CoA reductaseThe rate-controlling enzyme of the mevalonate pathway, the m... also makes CoQ-10 in our bodies which is a major energy source for our hearts and responsible for energy production in all our cells. Therefore statinsStatins are a class of drugs used to lower cholesterol level... also decrease CoQ-10This oil-soluble, vitamin-like substance is present in most ....
StatinsStatins are a class of drugs used to lower cholesterol level... increase insulinA hormone produced in the pancreas by the islets of Langerha... levels in our bodies. Chronically elevated insulinA hormone produced in the pancreas by the islets of Langerha... levels can cause inflammation and ironically, heart disease. Isn’t this the reason why people are prescribed statinsStatins are a class of drugs used to lower cholesterol level... — to decrease heart disease? Elevated insulinA hormone produced in the pancreas by the islets of Langerha... levels may also cause high blood pressure, heart attacks, thyroid issues, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s and even cancer.
StatinsStatins are a class of drugs used to lower cholesterol level... increase the risk of diabetesA metabolic disease in which the body's inability to produce... because it raises your blood sugarConcentration of glucose in the blood. levels. How? ExcessSigns of general excess: Yang symptoms - person is robust, e... sugar that you eat from a meal is shunted to the liver where it should then be processed and stored into cholesterolA steroid alcohol found in most body tissues, including the ... and triglycerides. If the cholesterolA steroid alcohol found in most body tissues, including the ... production is blocked, then the sugar is kicked out of the liver and back into your blood stream, raising your blood sugarConcentration of glucose in the blood. levels, which increases your risk of diabetesA metabolic disease in which the body's inability to produce.... This is exactly what the researchers in Finland discovered in their study.
How do I know if I’m at risk for heart disease?
If you visit your PCP or cardiologist, they will check your lipid profile to assess your risk for heart disease. The old school of thought is that your total cholesterolA steroid alcohol found in most body tissues, including the ... should be 200mg/dl or lower and under 150mg/dl if you already have heart disease. Your HDL should be over 40mg/dl, your LDL should be under 100mg/dl or under 70mg/dl for high risk patients, and your triglycerides should be under 150mg/dl. (Note: The lipid panel should be done fasting.)
Better and more accurate indicators of your risk for heart disease is using the following criteria according to Dr. Joseph Mercola:
1) HDL/Total CholesterolA steroid alcohol found in most body tissues, including the ... Ratio : Divide your HDL by your Total CholesterolA steroid alcohol found in most body tissues, including the ... and multiply by 100. This should ideally be 24% or higher. If your ratio is 10% or lower, then you are at significant risk.
2) Triglyceride/HDL Ratio: Divide your triglycerides by your HDL. This should ideally be under 2.
I’ll use my own numbers to illustrate 1 and 2 above.
TC = 194 HDL = 68 LDL = 116 Triglycerides = 61
My HDL/TC ratio is 68/194 x 100 = 35% > 24%
My triglyceride/HDL ratio is 61/68 = 0.89 < 2
As you can see from the ratio calculations, LDL is not even a factor considered in assessing heart disease risk. This indicates that lowering LDL does not have as much influence in lowering your risk as raising HDL and lowering triglycerides levels do.
3) NMR lipoprofile: This test measures the “bad” LDL levels discussed above, the “smaller more damaging LDL particles.” These particles can cause inflammation and are also connected with insulinA hormone produced in the pancreas by the islets of Langerha... and leptin resistance.
4) Check your fasting insulinA hormone produced in the pancreas by the islets of Langerha...: Normal insulinA hormone produced in the pancreas by the islets of Langerha... levels are under 5, but should ideally be under 3.
5) Check your fasting blood sugarConcentration of glucose in the blood.: Those with a fasting blood sugarConcentration of glucose in the blood. of 100-125mg/dl have almost 3 times the risk for heart disease than those with levels under 79mg/dl.
6) Waist to hip ratio (waist measurement/hip measurement) is a much better indicator than Body Mass Index (BMI) because BMI underestimates obesity rates by not accurately measuring your visceral, or belly fat. An ideal ratio for men is under 0.8. For women, the ideal ratio should be under 0.7. A ratio over 1 for men and over 0.85 for women is considered high risk.
7) Iron65% of the iron in the body is bound up in hemoglobin molecu... levels: Excess iron levels can potentially damage blood vessels, increasing the risk for heart disease. Check your ferritin levels and make sure they are under 80mg/dl. The best way to get rid of excessSigns of general excess: Yang symptoms - person is robust, e... iron65% of the iron in the body is bound up in hemoglobin molecu... is donating blood.
Should I take statinsStatins are a class of drugs used to lower cholesterol level... if I am at risk or already have heart disease?
I rarely, if ever, prescribe statinsStatins are a class of drugs used to lower cholesterol level.... And if a patient comes to me on a statin, I will usually take them off the statin and use diet, supplements, and herbs to treat them. The only benefit that has been seen with statinsStatins are a class of drugs used to lower cholesterol level... is with middle-aged men who already have documented heart disease (according to cardiologist Dr. Stephen Sinatra) or those born with a genetic defect called familial hypercholesterolemia which prevents them from normalizing cholesterolA steroid alcohol found in most body tissues, including the ... levels (these patients come in with extremely high numbers: TC >300 and triglycerides > 400). Even then, your total cholesterolA steroid alcohol found in most body tissues, including the ... levels do not need to be lowered below 150mg/dl nor does your LDL need to be below 70mg/dl. Lowering your cholesterolA steroid alcohol found in most body tissues, including the ... to these levels puts you at risk for cognitive issues including depression (low cholesterolA steroid alcohol found in most body tissues, including the ... levels may indirectly link to lower serotoninA monoamine neurotransmitter. Biochemically derived from try... levels in the brain since cholesterolA steroid alcohol found in most body tissues, including the ... is needed in nerve cell membranes for serotoninA monoamine neurotransmitter. Biochemically derived from try... receptors to work properly), memory loss, and Alzheimer’s dementia (with low HDL levels as a risk factor). Instead, use the ratio calculations above to make sure your lipid profile is in the optimal range.
Another valid reason to take the lowest dose of statinsStatins are a class of drugs used to lower cholesterol level..., if you must take them, is because there have been hundreds of studies (900!) validating the damaging side effects from statinsStatins are a class of drugs used to lower cholesterol level... including muscle pain, cognitive loss, neuropathy, anemia, frequent fevers, cataracts, and sexual dysfunction. In addition, studies have shown that lowering cholesterolA steroid alcohol found in most body tissues, including the ... levels with statinsStatins are a class of drugs used to lower cholesterol level... don’t lower mortality rates from cardiac related deaths but actually increase the mortality of cancer. Researchers now also believe that high LDL levels are not the culprit of heart disease risk since those people dying from heart related diseases had the lowest levels of cholesterolA steroid alcohol found in most body tissues, including the ... ever (i.e., the 3 year mortality rates of heart attack patients with low LDL were twice as high)!
Also, if you are taking a statin — you must supplement with at least 100mg of CoQ-10This oil-soluble, vitamin-like substance is present in most ... daily (if not 200-300 mg) as this is depleted in those taking statinsStatins are a class of drugs used to lower cholesterol level.... And if you are over 40, it is better to supplement with the ubiquinol form of CoQ-10This oil-soluble, vitamin-like substance is present in most ... (more about this later).
Coming soon: I’ll talk about effective ways to improve your cholesterolA steroid alcohol found in most body tissues, including the ... health and prevent heart disease. For now, be comforted in knowing that eating foods high in cholesterolA steroid alcohol found in most body tissues, including the ... and saturated fatsSaturated fatty acids have no double bonds between the indiv... such as eggs and uncured bacon, as well as foods high in unsaturated fats such as avocados are a step in the right direction towards these goals.
What does your cholesterolA steroid alcohol found in most body tissues, including the ... profile look like?
In health and wellness,
Dr. Elain