Latest blood test results, high cholesterol

[Hooty]

Hello everyone,
I had my routine annual blood test and my HbA1c has dropped by 1 to 39, so no concerns there, but my cholesterol is high at 7.6. 12 months ago it was 6.4. Prior to this over the last 10 years it has been below 4.5. HDL is 1.87, LDL is 5.2 and triglycerides are 1.1
I started eating low carb after finding out I was prediabetic in spring last year. I am now wondering if I should cut back on cheese, cream etc? I have never been overweight, I weigh about 48kg at a height of 5ft 3”, and am pretty active, so need to make sure I keep my calories up. I’m late 40s.

I’d be interested to know if anyone else has been in this position, and managed to lower cholesterol by diet, without losing weight? I have a GP appointment next week and wonder if statins will be suggested but would like to try to manage by diet if I can. I don’t know if it’s possible! I already eat plenty of nuts, seeds including flaxseeds, cinnamon, leafy veg, avocados which are meant to help with cholesterol levels... starting to wonder if it’s a losing battle though.

 

[bulkbiker]

Firstly.. great news on the HbA1c.

Are you worried about cholesterol levels?

Had you fasted before the bloods were taken, if so for how long?

 

[ert]

My total cholesterol went up to 10 mmol/l after changing to LCHF. I followed the cholesterol_in_food link below, keeping my total daily cholesterol to 200 mg/100 grams. My total cholesterol has been around 5 mmol/l 3 months after I made this change and on every blood test since.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_cholesterol_in_foods

However, dietary cholesterol has little to no effect on blood cholesterol levels in most people. However, in some people, like myself, high-cholesterol foods raise blood cholesterol levels. These people makeup about 40% of the population and are often referred to as “hyperresponders.” This tendency is considered to be genetic.

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/dietary-cholesterol-does-not-matter#heart-disease

 

[Hooty]

Firstly.. great news on the HbA1c.

Are you worried about cholesterol levels?

Had you fasted before the bloods were taken, if so for how long?

No, this was a non-fasting blood test, mid-afternoon and I had had lunch and breakfast, though I can’t remember what lunch was that day!
I am a bit worried about the cholesterol, as it’s flagged up as “abnormal” on my results. I feel I am doing more exercise than I have for years, and eating low carb with a good range of fresh veg , but definitely eating more fat (and not really watching if it is saturated or not) so I’m feeling a bit down at the prospect of up cutting out more foods. My BP is excellent (I’ve been on a low dose of medication for high BP for over 10 years) so that is good along with the HbA1c!

 

[bulkbiker]

No, this was a non-fasting blood test, mid-afternoon and I had had lunch and breakfast

In that case the numbers will have been skewed by what you had eaten so completely meaningless.. I certainly wouldn't take any medication based on those.

so I’m feeling a bit down at the prospect of up cutting out more foods.

No need to do that whatsoever.
How long have you been low carb? if less than a year then ignore the numbers anyway especially if still in weight loss mode.

 

[Hooty]

My total cholesterol went up to 10 mmol/l after changing to LCHF. I followed the cholesterol_in_food link below, keeping my total daily cholesterol to 200 mg/100 grams. My total cholesterol has been around 5 mmol/l 3 months after I made this change and on every blood test since.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_cholesterol_in_foods

However, dietary cholesterol has little to no effect on blood cholesterol levels in most people. However, in some people, like myself, high-cholesterol foods raise blood cholesterol levels. These people makeup about 40% of the population and are often referred to as “hyperresponders.” This tendency is considered to be genetic.

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/dietary-cholesterol-does-not-matter#heart-disease

This is very interesting, thank you. Luckily beef brains and caviar don’t feature on my usual menu! Eggs though... definitely eating more of those than I used to.

As well as keeping a check on the cholesterol level of foods you are eating, have you added any of the foods that are recommended for helping reduce cholesterol? I feel I could eat more oily fish and incorporate soya into my diet. When you say you keep to 200mg/100g per day, do you mean you only eat foods that are below this cholesterol content? Or do you calculate an absolute amount in all the food you eat in a day?

How did you find out you are a hyperresponder? And did your doctor suggest statins?

Sorry for all the questions!

 

[Hooty]

In that case the numbers will have been skewed by what you had eaten so completely meaningless.. I certainly wouldn't take any medication based on those.

No need to do that whatsoever.
How long have you been low carb? if less than a year then ignore the numbers anyway especially if still in weight loss mode.

Thank you, I didn’t realise the cholesterol test would be influenced so much by what I had eaten beforehand... I will certainly mention this at my appointment.

I’ve been low carb for probably about a year and a half, but have never needed to lose weight. I did initially lose a couple of kg (unintentionally) and have stayed at that weight, but if I lost any more I’d probably be considered underweight.

 

[Resurgam]

Having low cholesterol is bad news - every time any sort of checking is done the numbers come out wrong for the hypotheses that cholesterol is not a good thing.
The research is, of course, taken out of the news because it has to be wrong - if course. just because it shows people living longer, with stronger immune systems it still 'has to be bad' because that is what 'everyone' believes.

 

[ert]

This is very interesting, thank you. Luckily beef brains and caviar don’t feature on my usual menu! Eggs though... definitely eating more of those than I used to.

As well as keeping a check on the cholesterol level of foods you are eating, have you added any of the foods that are recommended for helping reduce cholesterol? I feel I could eat more oily fish and incorporate soya into my diet. When you say you keep to 200mg/100g per day, do you mean you only eat foods that are below this cholesterol content? Or do you calculate an absolute amount in all the food you eat in a day?

How did you find out you are a hyperresponder? And did your doctor suggest statins?

Sorry for all the questions!

It's just the total cholesterol that I've worked with, so the total value in all of the foods I eat every day. Eggs and cream were things I have to watch. I've swapped to soya cream. There are articles written about cholesterol lowing foods, but I haven't any experience of this. My specialist said because I responded to a cholesterol limiting diet, and my father and brother have cholesterol problems, that I am likely to be a hyperresponder.

 

[Hooty]

Having low cholesterol is bad news - every time any sort of checking is done the numbers come out wrong for the hypotheses that cholesterol is not a good thing.
The research is, of course, taken out of the news because it has to be wrong - if course. just because it shows people living longer, with stronger immune systems it still 'has to be bad' because that is what 'everyone' believes.

I will look into this, thank you.

 

[Hooty]

It's just the total cholesterol that I've worked with, so the total value in all of the foods I eat every day. Eggs and cream were things I have to watch. I've swapped to soya cream. There are articles written about cholesterol lowing foods, but I haven't any experience of this. My specialist said because I responded to a cholesterol limiting diet, and my father and brother have cholesterol problems, that I am likely to be a hyperresponder.

Thank you, I wish I could make changes one at a time and get tested after each change to see what works for me!

 

[Mrs T 123]

It's just the total cholesterol that I've worked with, so the total value in all of the foods I eat every day. Eggs and cream were things I have to watch. I've swapped to soya cream. There are articles written about cholesterol lowing foods, but I haven't any experience of this. My specialist said because I responded to a cholesterol limiting diet, and my father and brother have cholesterol problems, that I am likely to be a hyperresponder.

Does the soya cream taste ok or is it something I would get used to and is it beside the normal cream at the supermarket or where is it?

 

[ert]

Does the soya cream taste ok or is it something I would get used to and is it beside the normal cream at the supermarket or where is it?

It tastes great, which was a surprise - I'm not a fan of soya milk. The UHT version has the lowest carbohydrates at 1.2 g/100mL. It's at Sainsbury's, Tesco's, the Co-op, Waitrose in the Free-From isle.
https://www.tesco.com/groceries/en-GB/products/255764252
I have it in my coffee, and use it for cooking, in soups and sauces.

 

[Mrs T 123]

I too must be a hyper-responder as when I increased fats in my diet (a lot of cream) my total cholesterol also increased a lot so I have cut right back on the cream and bad fats and hopefully it will have returned back to ok when I have to next get it checked with another blood test in December

 

[Mrs T 123]

It tastes great, which was a surprise - I'm not a fan of soya milk. The UHT version has the lowest carbohydrates at 1.2 g/100mL. It's at Sainsbury's, Tesco's, the Co-op, Waitrose in the Free-From isle.
https://www.tesco.com/groceries/en-GB/products/255764252
I have it in my coffee, and use it for cooking, in soups and sauces.

I will give it a try - I have tried the milk and it is something you get used to. many thanks, much appreciated

 

[LaoDan]

I think it’s just nonsense they test non fasted. There’s really no way to establish a baseline

 

[Hooty]

I too must be a hyper-responder as when I increased fats in my diet (a lot of cream) my total cholesterol also increased a lot so I have cut right back on the cream and bad fats and hopefully it will have returned back to ok when I have to next get it checked with another blood test in December

Was your GP happy to let you have a go at managing yourself before re-testing?

 

[Mrs T 123]

Was your GP happy to let you have a go at managing yourself before re-testing?

Yes it was actually my Diabetic Nurse - I told her I had over indulged (which I had and loved it at the time!) on the full fat cream and full fat everything ... she suggested testing again just before christmas (3 months later) but she knows I have my own mind and opinion on things anyhow such as when I told her I was keeping a track of things by testing my bloods to which she replied I know you will but you really don't need to test your blood if you really have to blah blah blah. Probably because when I was first diagnosed t2 they wanted to put me on everything but I said I would try and control with diet and exercise first which I did (may be I am just one of the lucky ones) but I did put my mind to it and I am still in control/.remission over 3 years on. Good luck. Take care - I wish you well on your new journey - it's a marathon not a sprint and sometimes things work for a while and then we have to tweak this and that a bit.

 

[Hooty]

I’ve just had my GP appointment and have been reassured that I don’t need to be concerned about the cholesterol reading. My QRisk score (used to estimate the risk of cardiovascular disease) is 3% as all my other factors are good, so the GP said to keep up the healthy eating/exercise and cholesterol will be checked again in a year .

 

[bulkbiker]

I’ve just had my GP appointment and have been reassured that I don’t need to be concerned about the cholesterol reading. My QRisk score (used to estimate the risk of cardiovascular disease) is 3% as all my other factors are good, so the GP said to keep up the healthy eating/exercise and cholesterol will be checked again in a year .

Smart doctor.