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cholesterol

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dragongirl

Well-Known Member
Messages
349
Location
Northumberland, UK
When diagnosed my cholesterol score was 7.5. The DN said I'd have to take statins, but I'm still in the first month of the 3 months' grace before next visit, during which I'm low-carbing (this morning fasting = 3.8, constant downward from 8.3 at diagnosis). Don't want to start argument on that topic, but I have just searched the cholesterol comments on the forum and still have these queries, which I wonder if anyone can answer:

1 Is there a way of testing cholesterol in the meantime? Chemist or home test or something?
2 If I ask for an interim test at the surgery, when is the earliest it might show improvement (if the low-carbing is likely to improve it - don't of course know whether it is!)?
3 I am drinking a Benecol drink each morning - is this likely to be helping? I ask because if it isn't, I could ditch it as it's 4.2g extra and expecsive!

Any help would be appreciated - thanks.
 
Hi there,
First of all concerning the benecol, my OH (not diabetic) found the benecol really helped his cholesterol, in fact he stopped taking it because it had improved so much, the next blood test it had gone up again, so he started it again and it went back down on the next blood test (6 months apart). However I buy Tesco's own brand of cholesterol lowering drink for him which is much cheaper at 8 for £2.50 for the strawberry flavoured one. I also understood from reading the booklet with the Flora proactive that you are best to take it with your main meal of the day as that is when it will be most effective when you are actually eating the most food.

With regard to home testing as I understand most of them just give a total cholesterol level which is not that helpful because it is lumping together the good hdl with the bad ldl. Now I am not diabetic but have impaired glucose tolerance so I low carb, I eat much more fat than usual but my ldl went up slightly but the hdl went up considerably and the trigs went even lower which my gp was quite happy with. However I have cut down my cream and cheese consumption and upped my healthy fat intake (nuts, olive oil, fish etc), as Sue says nuts are supposed to be good for cholesterol, I have heard walnuts are good as well as almonds. My problem with regard to my cholesterol is that because my lasting fasting BG was perfect since my low carbing, my GP will not be taking my blood again so I will not know what is happening now!
Good luck hope this is helpful.
 
@Sue - thanks, will give them a try!

@Jo - thanks very much, too, that is very helpful. I guess if I don't know which is which then I may as well not test for cholesterol. I think I will give the GP a ring right now and ask for the breakdown on my last test though. The info on when to drink which drink is interesting - I will research further. In terms of ditching bad food, it seems an added handicap to have to avoid some of what was allowed (eg cheese) just to sort the cholesterol! It's like having moved to a different universe.
 
basically you need to try to keep away from dairy products,but don't forget cholesterol is produced by your liver mainly at night.
 
To be honest dragongirl, I wouldn't worry about the cholesterol at all. There is no evidence that lowering cholesterol in women is of benefit to their health. In fact, there's evidence to show that cardiovascular risk falls as cholesterol rises in women.
Certainly, higher cholesterol values seem to be associated with longer life expectancy and fewer deaths from other causes.
Besides which, on your lower carb diet your HDL will probably rise and your triglycerides will fall.
Chill.

fergus
 
Hi dragongirl.

Here is a link to the British Heart Foundation and much information about Cholesterol. Have a read and look at some of the other links as to the research showing what is beneficial or not.

http://www.bhf.org.uk/keeping_your_hear ... terol.aspx

The question about whether Statins (Cholesterol lowerin medications) are effective for women prompts much debate. Fergus and I have different views, for different reasons. We sometimes debate this point. :D
This is what I believe. It does also depend on your Family History and risk factors for Heart problems.

Large clinical research studies, involving many thousands of people, have shown that lowering bad cholesterol reduces your risk of heart disease, especially heart attacks. Two important research studies showing that statins had significant benefits were completed in the mid-1990s. They were the Scandinavian 4S trial, and the Scottish WOSCOPS trial.
A small minority of doctors disagree with the evidence but their views are at odds with virtually all informed medical opinion.

Are statins as effective and as safe for women?
The evidence that we have so far indicates that statins are equally effective in both
sexes. However, women who are pregnant, or who are planning a pregnancy in the
near future, should not take statins.

STANOLS AND STEROLS (an extract from the link above)
How much do I need to eat a day to have an impact on my cholesterol levels?

Stanols and sterols are present in small amounts in many fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds,
cereals and other plant foods but a healthy diet can only provide a modest intake. Our
typical daily intake usually ranges from 160 to 400 mg a day, although strict
vegetarians may have a daily intake between 600 and 800 mg. It is thought that
plant sterols/stanols have little effect on cholesterol absorption at these levels of
intake.
However, studies suggest that if you consume around 2g of plant sterols/stanols, this
can reduce LDL cholesterol levels by 10-15%, although there is considerable
variation between individuals. Higher intakes are achieved from supplements or functional
foods, such as premium price margarines, yogurts and other milk products. To
sustain LDL-cholesterol reductions from these products, individuals need to
consume them daily.

Ken.
 
Hi all
I dont know if this is of any intrest to anyone I was on a trial of simvastatin run by Oxford University. The trial ran from 1999 to Jan. 2008 and was for people who had survived a heart attack it was to run for 5 years but was extended (the joke was there was to few deaths) but if anyone is interested they can see the results that were released on Sunday 9 November 2008 at www.ctsu.ox.ac.uk/search

regards George
 
Thanks for all those comments and vids, everyone - very interesting and I need some time to er digest it all!

Do you know? Biology at school would have been interesting if anyone had actually related it to things I needed to know! I'm trying to get a grip on it now though.
 
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