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Understanding Cholesterol, part 2
There is considerable confusion around cholesterol and the vital roles it plays in optimal health. It’s one of the most protective substances, yet we spend billions annually on drugs to prevent our bodies from making it. Cholesterol is made by all animal cells and is an essential structural component of animal cell membranes: it is in EVERY cell of your body. Cholesterol is a precursor to all of your hormones needed for blood sugar regulation, mineral metabolism and reproduction. It’s required in the production of vitamin D and the production of bile (for proper digestion of fats). The brain comprises 2% of body weight but it contains 25% of its cholesterol – indicating its importance for proper brain functions like memory and learning. The body makes cholesterol to in order to process inflammation and stressors. Cholesterol is essential for proper health, for both body and mind.
Cholesterol is a waxy substance, so it doesn’t mix easily in blood (oil and water don’t mix). In order to transport it in your blood vessels, your body makes different types of transporter proteins called lipoproteins. The function of a lipoprotein is to simply move cholesterol, as well digested fatty acids and fat soluble vitamins from the digestive tract to other parts of the body.
One type of lipoprotein (called low-density or LDL) transports cholesterol to your body for cellular repair whereas another lipoprotein (high-density, or HDL) moves cholesterol from your blood back to your liver where it’s broken down or recycled.
Lab values reflect the amount of cholesterol contained in your both of these types of lipoproteins (LDL and HDL). However, the molecule of cholesterol is unchanged, the only thing that changes is the lipoprotein that moves it from one part of the body to another.
What causes high cholesterol? There are three key factors that cause your cholesterol levels to rise:
- Stress – When a healthy person gets stressed, the production of cholesterol increases because it is the precursor needed to produce the anti-stress steroid hormones pregnenolone, progesterone, and DHEA.
- Low metabolic/thyroid function – If the stress is ongoing, it downregulates your metabolic rate. Consequently, there is less active thyroid hormone available that is needed to convert cholesterol into the more stress protective hormones (specifically pregnenolone, progesterone and DHEA). Because the cholesterol isn’t converted, it continues to rise in the blood. Historically, the treatment of high levels of cholesterol was thyroid medication, which not only corrected cholesterol levels, but supported metabolism and proper thyroid function, as well as protected against cardiovascular disease.¹,²,³,¹²
- Infection – in cases of infection, cholesterol will rise because it is anti-inflammatory and stimulates the immune system defense response.⁴
So the body is wisely increasing cholesterol for protection, working in tandem with the thyroid to keep the system in balance. Elevated cholesterol levels under these circumstances are protective, but also reflective that metabolic health is compromised.
A normal range of cholesterol is an important reflection of a healthy and well-functioning metabolism. When a drug is used to artificially reduce its levels, we not only lose the protective effect of the unconverted cholesterol, but we also lose it is an indicator for how the body is functioning as a whole.
Are high cholesterol levels bad for your health? When we revisit the scientific research available on the subject, it would appear that higher than “normal” levels of cholesterol are actually protective and result in lower rates of all cause mortality and that low levels of cholesterol can actually more susceptible to chronic diseases, including cancer.⁵,¹⁰,¹¹
Does high cholesterol cause heart disease? The science suggests that mortality from cardiovascular disease seems to be independent of serum cholesterol levels.⁷
Does dietary cholesterol affect blood cholesterol levels? The short answer to this is no, dietary intake of cholesterol doesn’t influence your cholesterol levels.⁸,⁹ Depending on the circumstances, our bodies need between 1000-2000mg of cholesterol daily. If the dietary intake of cholesterol drops, our bodies will make up the difference.
So what can I do to reduce my cholesterol levels? Make an appointment with me and we can get you sorted out 😊.
References:
- Su X, Peng H, Chen X, Wu X, Wang B. Hyperlipidemia and hypothyroidism. Clin Chim Acta. 2022 Feb 15;527:61-70. doi: 10.1016/j.cca.2022.01.006. Epub 2022 Jan 14. PMID: 35038435.
- Feld S, Dickey RA. An Association Between Varying Degrees of Hypothyroidism and Hypercholesterolemia in Women: The Thyroid-Cholesterol Connection. Prev Cardiol. 2001 Autumn;4(4):179-182.
- Mikhail GS, Alshammari SM, Alenezi MY, Mansour M, Khalil NA. Increased atherogenic low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in untreated subclinical hypothyroidism.
- Ravnskov, Uffe. (2004). High cholesterol may protect against infections and atherosclerosis. QJM : monthly journal of the Association of Physicians. 96. 927-34. 10.1093/qjmed/hcg150.
- Brescianini S, Maggi S, Farchi G, Mariotti S, Di Carlo A, Baldereschi M, Inzitari D; ILSA Group. Low total cholesterol and increased risk of dying: are low levels clinical warning signs in the elderly? Results from the Italian Longitudinal Study on Aging. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2003 Jul;51(7):991-6.
- Chapter 1 Cholesterol and Mortality. (2015). Annals of Nutrition & Metabolism, 66, 1–13. https://www.jstor.org/stable/48508246
- DuBroff R, de Lorgeril M. Cholesterol confusion and statin controversy. World J Cardiol. 2015 Jul 26;7(7):404-9. doi: 10.4330/wjc.v7.i7.404. PMID: 26225201; PMCID: PMC4513492.
- Fernandez ML. Rethinking dietary cholesterol. Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care. 2012 Mar;15(2):117-21. doi: 10.1097/MCO.0b013e32834d2259. PMID: 22037012.
- P2Namara DJ. Cholesterol intake and plasma cholesterol: an update. J Am Coll Nutr. 1997 Dec;16(6):530-4. PMID: 9430080.
- Muldoon MF, Manuck SB, Matthews KA. Lowering cholesterol concentrations and mortality: a quantitative review of primary prevention trials. BMJ. 1990 Aug 11;301(6747):309-14. doi: 10.1136/bmj.301.6747.309. PMID: 2144195; PMCID: PMC1663605.
- Zureik M, Courbon D, Ducimetière P. Decline in serum total cholesterol and the risk of death from cancer. Epidemiology. 1997 Mar;8(2):137-43. doi: 10.1097/00001648-199703000-00003. PMID: 9229204.
- Meier C, Staub JJ, Roth CB, Guglielmetti M, Kunz M, Miserez AR, Drewe J, Huber P, Herzog R, Müller B. TSH-controlled L-thyroxine therapy reduces cholesterol levels and clinical symptoms in subclinical hypothyroidism: a double blind, placebo-controlled trial (Basel Thyroid Study). J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2001 Oct;86(10):4860-6. doi: 10.1210/jcem.86.10.7973. PMID: 11600554.