My Total cholesterol in 2014 was 4.65 up to just above 5 in 2015 but still with a good HDL ratio. Today it was 8.56 on my yearly checkup (finger prick strip test). I have been quite strict Keto for the last 8 weeks with a daily calorie intake of about 1600 with approx 40 or less total carbs a day. 60 to 70% fat. Lost 10kg and feeling good but the high cholesterol is bothering me.

Have read theories before that total chol of 5 is a arbitrary number, doesn't correlate with heart disease and also that Keto/low carb decreases vascular endothelial inflammation due to low and stable glucose levels which makes cholesterol plaque formation less likely and a normal value of 5 is no longer relevant.

I'm going for a fasting lipogram when I can and will update with formal numbers.

Any thoughts, personal experiences or relevant data on this topic would be appreciated.