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My LDL has gone up on LCHF Diet

Tony2016

Active Member
Messages
44
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Hello Everyone,

I just got my HbA1c results today and it is 5.7% , previous result was 5.9%. I was happy with the progress but my total cholesterol has gone up from 5.3 to 6.3 mmol.

HDL was 2.0, LDL 3.9 and Triglyceride was 0.8
My doctor said I should cut back the cheese, butter and coconut cream.
Can anyone advise what I should do?
I do not want to give up my LCHF diet but looks like something I am taking is affecting my Cholesterol results.
 
You trigs are great and so is your HDL. The LDL are the fuel trucks that you are using to carry fuel. Remember they worked all the cholesterol number out with people that ate high carb. Have you seen Prof Sikaris videos they are great. Here is his latest
 
Buy the book 'The great cholesterol con' by Malcolm Kendrick. It will set your mind at rest totally. There are lots of books on Cholesterol, but I think this is the best one, it has good clear explanations, explains the science, but it is also a 'cracking good read', I like Malcolm Kendrick's style very much.

When you have a high HDL the LDL equation (because a normal lipid profile only estimates LDL it doesn't directly measure it) is inaccurate. The equation is called the Friedewald equation and it has been shown to be inaccurate by comparing the estimate to actual measured LDL.

The more accurate equation is the Iranian equation, here's the link.

http://homepages.slingshot.co.nz/~geoff36/LDL_mmol.htm

Because your LDL particles are becoming the 'large fluffy' type and because you are utilising stored fat as fuel, more LDL is released into the bloodstream, again raising LDL whilst you are losing weight. As your weight stabilises your LDL should drop back. Also reassuring is your TC/HDL ratio, which is 3.15. Anything below 4 is not classed as high risk.

At it's worst my total cholesterol was 9.6. I did lots of reading and research as my doctor was very keen on putting me on statins, I'm not sure what it is now, I haven't had it measured for years because I truly believe, based on all that research, that cholesterol numbers are irrelevant. Needless to say, I politely declined the statins.

Your improvement in HbA1c will have far more profound benefits for your health than a slight 'worsening' (only if you believe it) in your LDL.
 
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Hi. Yes, do your research as Atkinsmo has suggested and you may well find that reducing the saturated fats will have little effect on your cholesterol. Your doctor is basing his thoughts on the 'saturated fat is bad for us' teaching. Make you own mind up on that having done some research.
 
Hello Everyone, Yes, it was a relief to watch Prof. Ken Sikaris video. It does put my mind at ease with my lipid profile. My GP freaked out when he saw my Cholesterol results and I hope in the next three months, my results would improve. Thanks for the advice, guys.
 
I know many who's CHO rises with coconut oil and mine personally rises with lots of saturated fats but is great with plant/mono fats such as avocado, olives, nuts/seeds. Maybe just swap some saturated for unsaturated and it will help ease your mind.

That being said my Dad has always had low CHO and has had 2 heart attacks and a pace maker as well as is on various meds. My Mom has high CHO and not a single health problem at 86! I don't put too much stock in CHO as long as it is reasonable and I also agree better BS is better
 
I have this problem. Going to try eating less saturated, more vegetabl fat then wait and see.
 
Cholesterol numbers are just that..numbers. I have enough numbers to worry about with blood sugar, creatinine levels, blood pressure and general household bills...this one is not an accurate representation of the real state of play...it can hang around on my stats somewhere. the more I read about it..the less I worried. Bigger fish to fry (in the right kind of oil obviously). The stress you get from worrying about it is worse for you than the cholesterol level itself!
 
pleinster said:
The stress you get from worrying about it is worse for you than the cholesterol level itself!
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Yes. I can believe that. But is doesn't help that the only diet advice we get from HCPs amounts to "kill yourself with carbs". The only sensible advice I have found so far is on the forum.
 
Thanks everyone for being so supportive. Good to know the forum can be so reassuring.
 
Hello Everyone,
I sent a query to Dr. Jason Fung about my lipid profile and he said it generally raises HDL and LDL for people on LCHF diet.
 
NoCrbs4Me said:
But he didn't comment on whether it was good or bad?
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If you wanted to be sure, you would have to get an Apolipoprotein B test done. You can do this privately in the UK. I haven't done it, because my HDL is high, my trigs low and the HDL/LDL ratio good. The ApoB test tells you the number of LDL particles, which is the gold standard risk indicator. Not particle size so much.
 
Thanks, Lucy, I will have to find out about the ApoB test from my GP. But since my HDL is high and Triglyceride is low, I am not so worried.
 
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