High Cholesterol

About two in three adults have a cholesterol level that is higher than recommended. Having high cholesterol affects your heart and blood vessels and increases your risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD). High cholesterol causes fatty deposits (known as plaques) to build up inside your blood vessels.

In time, the blood vessels supplying your heart may become so narrow that they can’t deliver enough oxygen to the heart muscle, particularly when you’re exerting yourself. This can cause you to feel chest pain (angina). If a fatty plaque breaks off, it may cause a blood clot, which can block blood flow to your heart (heart attack) or brain (stroke).

Types of Cholesterol

Cholesterol is transported around your body attached to a protein in your blood. This combination of fat and protein is called a lipoprotein. There are different types of lipoprotein, depending on how much fat there is in relation to protein.

HDL (high-density lipoprotein) (Good Cholesterol)

A small amount of cholesterol is transported as HDL, which is mostly protein and not much fat. The role of HDL is to transport excess cholesterol from the tissues (including the walls of arteries) to the liver for disposal. As HDL helps prevent cholesterol building up in your blood vessels, you have a decreased risk of heart disease if you have high levels of this type. HDL is considered to be the “good” type of cholesterol. Women tend to have higher HDL levels than men. HDL can be increased by physical exercise.

LDL (low-density lipoprotein) (Bad Cholesterol)

Most of your body’s cholesterol (around 70 percent) is transported in this form. It consists mainly of fat, with not much protein. LDLs are chiefly involved in transporting cholesterol from the liver to the cells. High levels of LDL are associated with an increased risk of CVD as LDL causes cholesterol to be deposited in your blood vessels. LDL is considered to be the “bad” type of cholesterol.

VLDL (very low-density lipoprotein) and chylomicrons

These lipoproteins account for a small percentage of your body’s cholesterol, but they are rich in triglycerides and transport them to the tissues.

Triglycerides

Triglycerides are a different type of fat, mostly coming from fats in your food. Energy from food that is eaten and not used immediately is converted into triglycerides and transported to fat cells for storage. This provides you with an important source of stored energy.

Although most triglycerides are stored as fat, low levels are also found in your blood. A raised level of blood triglycerides together with high LDL can increase your risk of heart disease, particularly if you have diabetes.

Total Cholesterol (TC)

Having a high TC level is a risk factor for future health problems. However, it’s important to consider the relative amounts of HDL and LDL. This is often referred to as the TC:HDL ratio. You should aim for a high level of HDL and a low level of LDL (a low TC:HDL ratio).

Symptoms of high cholesterol

A high cholesterol level may only be revealed if you develop symptoms of heart disease. Sometimes, yellow patches (known as xanthomas) may develop around your eyes or elsewhere on your skin – these are cholesterol deposits and indicate that you have high cholesterol levels in your blood.

Causes of high cholesterol

There are several factors that may contribute to you having high blood cholesterol. These include:

  • a diet high in saturated fat and cholesterol
  • a lack of exercise – this can increase your LDL levels and decrease your HDL levels
  • family history – you’re more likely to have high cholesterol if you have a close male relative aged under 55 or a female relative aged under 65 affected by heart disease
  • being overweight
  • age and gender – your cholesterol levels generally rise with increasing age, and men are more likely to be affected than women
  • drinking more than the recommended daily amount of alcohol

Rarely, high cholesterol can be caused by a condition which may run in your family – this is called ‘familial hypercholesterolaemia’. About one in 500 people have this condition.

Other conditions such as poorly controlled diabetes, certain kidney and liver diseases, and an underactive thyroid may also cause high cholesterol. Some medicines such as beta-blockers, steroids or thiazides (a type of diuretic) may also affect blood lipid levels.

Cholesterol tests

You should have your cholesterol levels regularly checked by your GP if you have CVD (or are at high risk of CVD) or if you have a family history of high cholesterol. A blood sample may be taken either by a needle and a syringe, or by a finger prick. You can have this test done at your GP surgery, at hospital, or as part of a health assessment examination.

Treatment of high cholesterol

There are two ways to help lower high cholesterol. The first is with lifestyle changes including changing your diet, managing your weight and increasing exercise. See our Dietary and lifestyle section for healthy eating tips.

The second is to combine lifestyle changes with cholesterol-lowering medicines. These can be discussed with your GP. There are a few natural remedies that can be beneficial. Talk to your doctor before adding any of these supplements to your treatment. Some supplements can interact with medications.

Vitamin B3 (Niacin)

Vitamin B3, also called niacin, is used to lower cholesterol. Specifically, it appears to lower LDL cholesterol and increase HDL cholesterol. Well-designed studies have found that niacin lowers LDL cholesterol by approximately 10%, lowers triglycerides by 25%, and raises “good” HDL cholesterol by 15% to 30%. Niacin also appears to significantly lower levels for another risk factor for atherosclerosis, lipoprotein A. Because of side effects, niacin should not be used to lower cholesterol unless under the supervision of a qualified health practitioner.

Artichoke Leaf

There is some research suggesting that artichoke leaf extract (Cynara scolymnus) may help to lower cholesterol. Artichoke leaf extract may work by limiting the synthesis of cholesterol in the body. Artichokes also contain a compound called cynarin, believed to increase bile production in the liver and speed the flow of bile from the gallbladder, both of which may increase cholesterol excretion. A double-blind, placebo-controlled German study found that 1,800 mg of artichoke extract per day for six weeks significantly lowered total cholesterol by 18.5% compared to 8.6% in the placebo group and lowered LDL cholesterol by 22.9% compared with 6% in the placebo group. The ratio of LDL to HDL decreased by 20% in the artichoke group, compared with 7% in the placebo group. There were no adverse effects associated with artichoke use.

Plant Sterols

Plant sterols (such as beta-sitosterol and sitostanol) are naturally-occurring substances found in certain plants. Stanols are also found as dietary supplements or are added to margarine, orange juice, and dressings.

Research suggests that sterols may help to lower cholesterol. They are similar in structure to cholesterol and may help block the absorption of cholesterol from the intestines.

Studies have found that sterols significantly reduced total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol, but had no significant effect on HDL cholesterol or triglycerides.

Sterols appear to enhance the effects of other methods to lower cholesterol. In studies, people taking the statin drugs to lower cholesterol had an additional improvement in their cholesterol levels with sterols.

Fibre Supplements.

Soluble fibre appears to reduce LDL cholesterol by reducing cholesterol absorption in the intestines. Soluble fiber binds with cholesterol so that it is excreted.
 Soluble fibre can be found as a dietary supplement, such as psyllium powder, or in foods such as: Oats, barley, rye, Legumes (peas, beans)
Some fruits such as apples, prunes, and berries. Some vegetables, such as carrots, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, yams.

Five to 10 grams a day of a fibre supplement has been found to decrease LDL cholesterol by approximately 5%.

Sytrinol™

Sytrinol™ is a new patented, proprietary, branded ingredient from SourceOne.  Scientists have discovered compounds found in citrus and palm fruit extracts that support  healthy heart the natural way.  More than 12 years of research including in vitro, in vivo, and clinical studies, have demonstrated that Sytrinol™ helps maintain healthy cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels.  Unlike ingredients that attempt to block the absorption of cholesterol in the gastrointestinal tract, Sytrinol™ works to balance cholesterol production in the liver.  Sytrinol™ is also a powerful antioxidant with anti-inflammatory properties that support a healthy heart.

CoQ10 and Statin Drugs

Some research suggests that statin drugs, or HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, a class of drugs used to lower cholesterol, may interfere with the body’s production of CoQ10. CoQ10 is a nutrient which helps support cardiac functioning. 60mg per day of CoQ10 has been recommended whilst taking statin medications.

Red Yeast Rice

Red yeast rice contains naturally-occurring substances called monacolins. Monocolins, particularly one called lovastatin, is believed to be converted in the body to a substance that inhibits HMG-CoA reductase, an enzyme that triggers cholesterol production. This is the way the popular statin drugs work.

Because of this action, red yeast rice products containing a higher concentration of monocolins have been developed and marketed as a natural product to lower cholesterol.

Soya Isoflavones

Studies have found that these plant nutrients could help protect the heart by balancing cholesterol levels. Eating foods rich in soya such as tofu, and tempeh and drinking soya milk could help to reduce cholesterol levels by as much as 25%. Thos could be because the soya isoflavones either stop cholesterol from being absorbed by your body or facilitate its elimination.