Why is high cholesterol a problem?
The main risk associated with high cholesterol is cardiovascular disease (CVD). This includes diseases of the heart and blood vessels. High cholesterol causes blood vessels to become narrowed with fatty deposits called plaques. This can result in heart attacks, strokes and blood vessel problems. For more information see the separate BUPA health factsheets Angina, Heart attack and Stroke.

Types of cholesterol
Cholesterol is transported around the body in the blood attached to a protein. This combination of fat and protein is called a lipoprotein. Lipoproteins can be high density (HDL), low density (LDL) or very low density (VLDL), depending on how much protein there is in relation to fat.

LDL (low density lipoprotein)
Most of the body's cholesterol is transported as LDL. This is mostly fat and not much protein.

LDL causes cholesterol to be deposited in the arteries. High levels of LDL are associated with an increased risk of CVD. LDL is sometimes referred to as "bad cholesterol".

HDL (high density lipoprotein)
A small amount of cholesterol is transported as HDL, which is mostly protein and not much fat.
HDL actually helps prevent cholesterol building up in the arteries. Low levels of HDL are associated with an increased risk of heart disease. HDL is sometimes referred to as "good cholesterol". Women tend to have a higher HDL cholesterol level than men.
If the total cholesterol (TC) level is too high, this is one risk factor for 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. A high level of HDL and a low level of LDL (so a low TC:HDL ratio) is desirable.

Causes of high total and LDL cholesterol levels include:

Hereditary hyperlipidemia (Types IIa or IIb)
Diets high in saturated fats and cholesterol
Liver disease
Underactive thyroid
Poorly controlled diabetes
Overactive pituitary gland (a gland in the brain that helps control hormones in the body)
A kidney disorder called nephrotic syndrome characterized by elevated cholesterol, loss of protein in the urine leading to low levels of protein in the blood, and excessive fluid retention causing swelling
Anorexia nervosa
Medications such as progestogens, cyclosporins, and thiazide diuretics
Causes of low HDL cholesterol include:

Malnutrition
Obesity
Cigarette smoking
Certain medications such as beta blockers and anabolic steroids
Low levels of physical activity
Polycystic ovarian syndrome (a hormonal disorder caused by multiple cysts in the ovaries accompanied by irregular or no menstruation, acne, obesity, and excessive facial hair)
Causes of high triglyceride levels include:

Hereditary hyperlipidemia (Types I, IIb, III, IV, or V)
Diets high in calories, especially from sugar and refined carbohydrates
Obesity
Poorly controlled diabetes
Insulin resistance (decreased effectiveness of insulin, a hormone that lowers blood sugar levels)
Alcohol use
Kidney failure
Stress
Pregnancy
Polycystic ovarian syndrome
Hepatitis
Lupus
Multiple myeloma (a rare disease that occurs more frequently in men than in women and is associated with anemia, bleeding, recurrent infections, and weakness)
Lymphoma (tumor of the lymphoid tissue)
Certain medications such as estrogens (available in either oral contraceptives or as part of hormone replacement therapy for menopausal women), corticosteroids, a class of cholesterol-lowering medications known as bile acid binding resins (including cholestyramine, colestipol, colesevelam), and isotretinoin (used to treat acne).

Omega-3 fatty Acids

EPA and DHA

Numerous studies have reported the benefits of consuming fish oils, rich in the omega-3 fatty acids docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), at doses ranging from 850 mg to 4 g per day for those with heart disease. Supplementation with DHA, for example, has been shown to reduce triglycerides and LDL levels and raise HDL levels.

Alpha-Linolenic Acid

Walnuts are one of the best sources of the omega-3 fatty acid alpha-linolenic acid. Replacing a major portion (35%) of the monounsaturated fat in the Mediterranean diet with walnuts appears to significantly improve cholesterol and triglyceride levels in people with high cholesterol. Almonds, although not as well studied as walnuts, appear to have similar effects when used as a substitute for a portion of monounsaturated fats in low-fat diets.

Vitamin E
A number of studies conducted over the last 10 years have reported beneficial results from the use of vitamin E supplements for the treatment and prevention of heart disease including for those with elevated cholesterol levels.

Vitamin C

Preliminary evidence suggests that vitamin C (3 glasses of orange juice per day or up to 3 g per day as a supplement) may help decrease total and LDL cholesterol and triglycerides, and increase HDL levels.

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10)

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), also known as ubiquinone, is an antioxidant that is essential for energy production. Levels of CoQ10 have been found to be lower in people with high cholesterol when they were compared to healthy individuals of the same age. Furthermore, when person with high cholesterol take statin drugs, CoQ10 levels appear to decline in direct proportion to the level of decrease in cholesterol. This is particularly important to bear this in mind when statin drugs are used for long periods of time. Taking CoQ10 supplements, however, can correct the deficiency caused by statin medications without affecting the medication's positive effects on cholesterol levels.

Folic Acid (Vitamin B9)

High blood levels of homocysteine (an amino acid produced by the body) have been shown to increase the risk of heart attacks. Evidence suggests that high homocysteine levels are also related to low folate levels. This means that an adequate supply of folate and other B vitamins may be important, particularly for those with heart disease.

Plant Sterols

Plant sterols (fats present in fruits, vegetables, seeds, and nuts) appear to interfere with the absorption of cholesterol, thereby lowering the level of cholesterol in the blood. A daily intake of 1.6 g of margarine containing plant sterols has been shown to reduce total and LDL cholesterol, with larger intakes not necessarily providing any additional benefit. Questions have been raised, however, regarding the possibility that plant sterols interfere with the absorption of certain antioxidants such as alpha- and beta-carotenes, alpha-tocopherol, and lycopene. While the significance of this is still unclear, it warrants further investigation, and these micronutrients must be carefully monitored in the blood of those using plant sterols.

L-Carnitine

L-carnitine is produced in the liver and kidneys from the amino acids lysine and methionine. It is stored in skeletal muscles and the heart and may be beneficial in treating conditions such as chest pain, heart attack, heart failure, diabetes, and abnormal cholesterol. In several human studies, supplementation with 2 to 3 g per day of L-carnitine led to a significant reduction in total cholesterol and triglycerides, and to increases in HDL cholesterol levels.

Red wine

Red wine contains flavonoids, which inhibit LDL oxidation (the process whereby LDL cholesterol adheres to artery walls). Studies have demonstrated a relationship between flavonoid consumption (from food) and reduced risk of death from coronary heart disease.

Although nonalcoholic grape products contain flavonoids, red wine contains much higher concentrations of flavonoids. However, the use of alcohol is not advocated by the AHA and other organizations because of the potential for addiction and the other serious repercussions such as motor vehicle accidents and the development of hypertension, liver disease, breast cancer, weight gain. If red wine is consumed, it is recommended that men have no more than 2 glasses (20 g ethanol) per day and women, no more than 1 glass (15 g ethanol).

Red Yeast Rice

Red yeast rice, the fermented product of rice and red yeast, has been used in China since at least 800 AD to make wine and preserve food, and for its medicinal properties, which are believed to include, among other things, improvement in blood circulation. Recent well-designed studies have shown that red yeast rice significantly reduces total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triglyceride concentrations.

Chromium

Brewer's yeast is an important source of chromium. Ninety percent of Americans are deficient in this important mineral. Chromium has demonstrated the ability to lower LDL levels in the blood and raise HDL levels.

Calcium

Preliminary studies in animals and people suggest that calcium supplements, in the range of 1,500 to 2,000 mg per day, may help to lower cholesterol. The information available thus far suggests that keeping cholesterol levels normal or even low by using calcium supplements (along with many other measures such as changing your diet and exercising) is likely to be more beneficial than trying to treat it by adding calcium once you already have elevated cholesterol. More research in this area is needed.

Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic Acid)

Research has shown that vitamin B5 lowers cholesterol. Studies are currently underway to determine if this vitamin helps prevent heart disease.

Green Tea (Camellia sinensis)

Drink at least 10 glasses of water each day
High Blood Cholesterol treatment using Vitamins
Vitamins B6, choline, and inositol are particularly effective in reducing the level of blood cholesterol. Wheat germ, yeast, or vitamin B extracted from bran contain high quantities of these vitamins. Vitamin E also elevates blood lecithin and reduces cholesterol. The patient should take liberal quantities of vitamin E-rich foods such as sunflower seeds, safflower, soyabean oils, butter, and sprouted seed and grains.

Drink at least 10 glasses of water each day
Persons with high blood cholesterol level should drink at least eight to ten glasses of water every day, as copious drinking of water stimulates the excretory activity of the skin and kidneys. This, in turn, facilitates elimination of excessive cholesterol from the system.

Sunflower Seeds
Sunflower seeds are valuable in lowering high blood cholesterol. They contain a substantial quantity of linoleic acid which is the fat helpful in reducing cholesterol deposits on the walls of arteries. Substituting sunflower seeds for some of the solid fats like butter and cream will, therefore, lead to great improvement in health.

Flaxseed Oil – flaxseed oil is good for lowering your blood pressure, protecting you from cardiovascular diseases and lowering your cholesterol, so it covers all your bases on this subject.

Blueberry Compound Fights Cholesterol, Study Finds
A compound used by blueberries and grapes to fight off fungal infections could help lower cholesterol, U.S. researchers reported on Tuesday.The compound, called pterostilbene, also helps regulate blood sugar and might help fight type-2 diabetes, the researchers told a meeting of the American Chemical Society in Philadelphia.The finding adds to a growing list of reasons to eat colorful fruit, especially blueberries, which are rich in compounds known as antioxidants. These molecules battle cell and DNA damage involved in cancer, heart disease, diabetes and perhaps also brain degeneration.

 

If you use herbs, do so responsibly. Consult your doctor about your health conditions and use of herbal supplements. Herbs may be harmful if taken for the wrong conditions, used in excessive amounts, combined with prescription drugs or alcohol, or used by persons who don't know what they are doing. Just because an herbal remedy is natural, does not mean it is safe! There are herbs that are poisonous such as Poison Hemlock, Jimson weed, and many more.