- Messages
- 818
- Type of diabetes
- Gestational
- Treatment type
- Insulin
Just wondering if any other low carbers with high cholesterol have ever had a Lipid Subfractions tests, and even better, can show a before and after Lipid Subfractions result of how low carb (or keto or carnivore) lowered Small Dense LDL?
After having a high cholesterol result: Total Cholesterol 8.4 mmol; I decided to get the subfractions test done to see how much LDL is small and dense. My HDL was 2.8 mmol (good); my Triglycerides 0.7 mmol (good) and I've read that means you are unlikely to have any small dense LDL. However my results were:
Total Small Dense LDL 0.36
LDL 3 - 0.31 (0.00 - 0.15) more than it should be
LDL 4 - 0.05 (less than 0.01) also more than it should be
They call this an intermediate profile and say that I "probably have only a small increased risk of adverse cardiac events". Being over the recommended ranges is not where I want to stay if I can do something about it though of course.
Now I'm assuming low carb is the best thing to reduce small dense LDL based on some of the articles I have read.
Here is one such article https://www.bmj.com/content/347/bmj.f6340/rr/669222
The only thing that I haven't found a clear answer for is whether this amount of Small Dense LDL warrants trying a statin (probably not I imagine) and whether or not statins will actually lower Small Dense LDL.
A quick search brings up two conflicting results;
This study says statins DO NOT lower small dense LDL https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2929871/
But Ken Sikaris says statins DO reduce small dense LDL and truly help those with familial hypercholesterolemia
Who do you believe?
And if you have slightly elevated levels of small dense LDL in your profile, would you think just dietary intervention would be enough? Have you tried it and done before and after tests to prove it to yourself?
I'd love to hear your experiences!
After having a high cholesterol result: Total Cholesterol 8.4 mmol; I decided to get the subfractions test done to see how much LDL is small and dense. My HDL was 2.8 mmol (good); my Triglycerides 0.7 mmol (good) and I've read that means you are unlikely to have any small dense LDL. However my results were:
Total Small Dense LDL 0.36
LDL 3 - 0.31 (0.00 - 0.15) more than it should be
LDL 4 - 0.05 (less than 0.01) also more than it should be
They call this an intermediate profile and say that I "probably have only a small increased risk of adverse cardiac events". Being over the recommended ranges is not where I want to stay if I can do something about it though of course.
Now I'm assuming low carb is the best thing to reduce small dense LDL based on some of the articles I have read.
Here is one such article https://www.bmj.com/content/347/bmj.f6340/rr/669222
The only thing that I haven't found a clear answer for is whether this amount of Small Dense LDL warrants trying a statin (probably not I imagine) and whether or not statins will actually lower Small Dense LDL.
A quick search brings up two conflicting results;
This study says statins DO NOT lower small dense LDL https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2929871/
But Ken Sikaris says statins DO reduce small dense LDL and truly help those with familial hypercholesterolemia
Who do you believe?
And if you have slightly elevated levels of small dense LDL in your profile, would you think just dietary intervention would be enough? Have you tried it and done before and after tests to prove it to yourself?
I'd love to hear your experiences!
Last edited: