Cholesterol Levels?

meridianova

Have any of you (who have had bloodwork done) come back with high lipid profiles? I just spoke with my doctor, who pointed out that my HDL is wonderfully high (70), but my LDL is in the scary range (193). I can easily make some adjustments to my diet and bring my dietary cholesterol consumption down, however she readily pointed out that if you're genetically pre-disposed to have high LDL levels, then that's just how you're built and you aren't going to stop your liver from making cholesterol.

Has anyone else had these kinds of numbers? Were you able to bring them down without using statins or other cholesterol medication?

Dragonwolf

What are your triglycerides? The LDL number is generally calculated, and the calculation is known to be off for people with low triglycerides (something like under 100), especially with a high HDL number.

Also, LCHF diets are known to increase the generic LDL number, because it changes the composition of the particles. They become larger and more dense, thus increasing their weight. This, however, is a very good thing, because it's the small, low-density ones that cause problems.

Talk to your doctor about getting re-tested, and this time, get a direct measure of the LDL (even better, get the ApoB or LDL-p number, as that measures the number of LDL particles, instead of size/weight/concentration).

Here's some more detailed information (I don't agree with all of it, but it cites a source for pretty much every claim it makes, so you can cross-reference things and make your own decision) -- http://authoritynutrition.com/low-carb-diets-and-cholesterol/

meridianova

What are your triglycerides? The LDL number is generally calculated, and the calculation is known to be off for people with low triglycerides (something like under 100), especially with a high HDL number.

my triglycerides were 72, which is smack dab in the middle of the "where you want to be" range (0 - 149)

Also, LCHF diets are known to increase the generic LDL number, because it changes the composition of the particles. They become larger and more dense, thus increasing their weight. This, however, is a very good thing, because it's the small, low-density ones that cause problems.

Talk to your doctor about getting re-tested, and this time, get a direct measure of the LDL (even better, get the ApoB or LDL-p number, as that measures the number of LDL particles, instead of size/weight/concentration).

she's having me test again in 4 months, so i'll ask about those other numbers.

Here's some more detailed information (I don't agree with all of it, but it cites a source for pretty much every claim it makes, so you can cross-reference things and make your own decision) -- http://authoritynutrition.com/low-carb-diets-and-cholesterol/

thank you for this. i'll take a look when i get home.

FIT_Goat

They say that Trigs/HDL ratio is one of the best indicators of risk. Yours is practically 1 (72/70) ... anything under 2 is considered superb. I wouldn't stress about LDL. As stated above, ask for a type test before you assume it's bad LDL.