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What is cholesterol?
Cholesterol is a fatty substance produced by the liver that assists in bodily functions such as building cell membranes, nerves, and brain. It is a part of hormone production and metabolizes all the fat-soluble vitamins like vitamin A,D,E and K.
Dietary cholesterol can be obtained from animal products. Studies show that dietary cholesterol may stop inflammation, prevent blood clots from forming, support the immune system, and prevent disease-causing mutations in cells. All this goes to show that cholesterol is not at all bad and plays an important role in bodily functions. Dietary cholesterol forms a small part of the blood lipids while the body itself produces the majority.
The two important types of lipoproteins that carry cholesterol through your bloodstream are low-density lipoprotein (LDL),which moves cholesterol from the liver to other cells in the body,and high-density lipoprotein (HDL),which does the opposite, moving cholesterol from other cells in the body to the liver.
Low Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol (LDL-C)
It is typically referred to as “the bad one.” It makes up the majority of the body’s cholesterol and having a high level can lead to plaque build-up in the arteries, resulting in increased risks for cardiovascular disease like heart attack and stroke.
High Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol (HDL-C)
It is often called “the good one.”It helps carry LDL-C away from the arteries and other parts of the body,back to the liver to be broken down and used by the liver.
Knowing your cholesterol levels, age,gender,race/ethnicity,smoking status,and blood pressure,will help your health care team make decisions regarding treatment.
Studies related to good Vs bad cholesterol
A recent review suggests that contrary to common belief, cholesterol is not as “bad” as may be thought,& higher levels may not be directly linked to all-cause or cardiovascular mortality.
However, there are many other important limitations to consider. Many studies may have been missed out as the review searched only a single literature database, & the study only looked at the link in older adults aged over 60. LDL-cholesterol levels may show different links with long-term mortality in younger adults. The studies varied widely in adjustment for confounding factors that could be having an influence on the link between LDL and mortality. They did not take into account lifestyle factors such as smoking and alcohol, socioeconomic factors, presence of other medical conditions, & use of medications. Also, only LDL cholesterol was examined, levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides, and the ratio of LDL to HDL cholesterol could have had a different result. Medication history was not taken into account. For example, the people found to have the highest LDL cholesterol levels at the beginning of the study may have then been started on statins, and this could have dramatically cut their mortality risk.
Most health organisations including the NHS, the WHO, the British Dietetic Association, the British Heart Foundation and the US Food and Drug Administration have based their diet guidelines on these multiple studies including “Blood cholesterol & vascular mortality by age,sex,& blood pressure: a meta-analysis of individual data from 61 prospective studies with 55,000 vascular deaths” a Prospectve Studies Collaboration by Lewington S & others.
Only 1/3rd cholesterol comes from diet, hence diet alone is not the whole problem or solution for this issue. My advice would be to sensibly balance the dietary intake of fats and not to allow the LDL (bad) cholesterol to rise. This must be followed from a young age and is applicable to both men & women.