Normal levels of cholesterol in the blood. What level of cholesterol is considered high? Fish and seafood

Hearing about cholesterol, a person immediately thinks about its harm. This is true, but with a slight clarification: the body needs this substance for normal functioning. It's just that its useful amount has its limits.

Cholesterol is a naturally occurring fatty (lipophilic) alcohol. organic compound contained in the outer layer of each cell human body. Cholesterol is responsible for a number of important body functions, including:

  • strengthening of cell walls;
  • production of bile acid, which breaks down fats in the intestines;
  • participation in the synthesis of vitamin D and sex hormones - testosterone, cortisol and estrogen.

Cholesterol is also found in breast milk, due to which the walls of the brain cells of the baby become stronger.

In total, the body produces about 500 milligrams of cholesterol. Most of it is formed in the liver. Approximately the same amount of this substance the body receives along with high-grade foods.

Cholesterol does not dissolve well in water. That is why, in its pure form, it is not transferred by the bloodstream to the tissues of the body. Cholesterol and transporter proteins form complex compounds - lipoproteins. They are highly soluble and can be transported by blood.

Depending on the amount of lipids they contain, these compounds are:

  • very low density - VLDL (LP here means lipoproteins);
  • low density (LDL);
  • high density (HDL);
  • chylomicrons.

LDL is called "bad" cholesterol because it often forms plaques on the walls of blood vessels. But HDL is “good”, which dissolves these plaques. The above classification is conditional, since cholesterol is always the same in its structure and composition. What matters is which transporter protein it is attached to.

Well, in a certain amount, condition and ratio, cholesterol is absolutely harmless and vital for the body. You just need to try to control its level.

Deciphering a blood test for cholesterol

An appropriate blood test, called a lipidogram, helps to determine the level of cholesterol. It fixes the indicator not only of total cholesterol (TC), but also of its other types (including HDL, LDL and triglycerides).

The unit of measure for cholesterol is millimoles per liter of blood (mmol?/?liter).

For each indicator, 2 values ​​are set - minimum and maximum.

Norms are not the same, and their size depends on age and gender.

There is no exact indicator, which should normally equal the amount of cholesterol. However, there are recommendations regarding the interval in which its level should be in a given period of life in a healthy person. These figures are different for men and women.

Going beyond this interval often indicates the presence of a disease. In the case of an increase in cholesterol levels, hypercholesterolemia occurs. Its presence indicates the risk of early development of atherosclerosis. Hypercholesterolemia can be caused by hereditary pathology, but most often it appears due to the abuse of fatty foods.

The OH level indicators (on the lipid profile) are considered normal if it is in the range of 3.11–5.0 mmol / liter.

The level of "bad" cholesterol (LDL) above 4.91 mmol / liter is sure sign of atherosclerosis. It is desirable that this indicator does not exceed the range from 4.11 to 4.91 mmol/liter.

A low HDL also indicates that the human body is affected by atherosclerosis. A level of at least one millimol per liter of blood is considered normal.

The triglyceride (TG) index is also important. If it is higher than 2.29 mmol / liter, then this may indicate the presence of various diseases, including:

  • IHD (ischemic heart disease);
  • pancreatitis;
  • diabetes;
  • hypothyroidism;
  • hepatitis and cirrhosis of the liver;
  • hypertension;
  • obesity;
  • gout.

An increase in TG also occurs when pregnancy occurs, oral contraceptives or hormonal preparations are used.

And here reduced level TG can be caused by an inadequate diet, damage to kidney tissue, chronic lung problems, and hyperthyroidism.

According to the lipid profile, the coefficient (index) of atherogenicity (Ia) is calculated. It shows how high the probability of developing vascular and heart diseases is. It is calculated by the formula:

The size of the coefficient below three means that the amount of "good" cholesterol in a person's blood is quite enough to minimize the risk of atherosclerosis.

The value of the indicator in the range from three to four (with an upper limit of 4.5) indicates a high risk of developing the disease or even its presence.

The output of the coefficient outside the norm with a very high probability means the presence of a disease.

To do the analysis, venous blood is taken in the morning on an empty stomach. Food should be taken at least six to eight hours before the procedure. In addition, physical activity and fatty foods are contraindicated.

Norms of cholesterol in men

Normative indicators of cholesterol change every five years. In childhood, only the general indicator is measured. After reaching the age of five, both “good” and “bad” cholesterol are fixed. The limiting norms of a substance in the body increase over time. This happens before the age of fifty: then the level of cholesterol decreases.

The average cholesterol levels are as follows:

  • total cholesterol - from 3.61 to 5.21 mmol / liter;
  • LDL - from 2.250 to 4.820 mmol / liter;
  • HDL - from 0.71 to 1.71.

Table 1 contains information on the boundary values ​​of the indicator in the most productive time of a man's life: from fifteen to fifty.

An increase in cholesterol levels, of course, should be very alert. Its consumption should not exceed three hundred grams per day.. In order not to exceed this rate, you must adhere to the following diet:

  • Eat only lean meat, dairy products (fat-free).
  • Replace butter with vegetable oil.
  • Do not eat fried and spicy food.
  • Eat as many fruits as possible. In particular, citrus fruits are very useful. For example, grapefruit is especially effective in lowering cholesterol levels. If you eat it every day, then after a few months this figure can be reduced by almost eight percent.
  • Include legumes and oatmeal in the diet - they will contribute to the removal of cholesterol.
  • End smoking. Those who like to smoke gradually accumulate “bad” cholesterol in their bodies and squander “good” cholesterol. Smoking day after day damages the walls of blood vessels, on which this harmful substance begins to accumulate.
  • Eliminate alcoholic beverages and reduce coffee intake.

In general, if you follow a proper and balanced diet, you can achieve a fifteen percent reduction in cholesterol.

Cholesterol levels in women

As noted above, cholesterol levels depend on sex and age and change throughout life. The state of health is also important. The female norm is lower than the male one.

Average cholesterol values ​​are shown in Table 2.

Total cholesterol, high (“good”) and low (“bad”) density is subject to assessment.

If total cholesterol is within normal limits, and LDL is elevated, then an increase in blood density may occur. This is a dangerously high possibility of blood clots forming inside the blood vessels.

The indicator of "bad" cholesterol should not exceed 5.590 mmol / liter, otherwise there will be a threat to life. When the total indicator exceeds 7.84 mmol / liter, pathologies begin to develop in the circulatory system.

Undesirable is the fall of "good" cholesterol below normal. After all, then the body will feel its deficiency and there will be a threat of the formation of blood clots in the vessels.

Metabolism in a young body takes place much faster, and therefore the younger the woman, the closer her cholesterol level is to normal. Until a certain time, excesses in the blood do not accumulate, and heavy foods (including fatty and spicy foods) are easier to digest.

However, cholesterol also rises in youth if such diseases are present:

  • diabetes;
  • liver failure;
  • malfunctions of the endocrine system.

Cholesterol indicators, which are considered normal, are shown in Table 3.

Slightly increased cholesterol levels in females, over 30 years old(table 4).

The likelihood of an increase in the amount of cholesterol is greater in those women who are not indifferent to smoking and take contraceptives in the form of tablets. After 30, nutrition becomes more relevant. Indeed, in the fourth decade, metabolic processes are no longer so fast. The body needs significantly less carbohydrates and fats, and it is more difficult for it to process food that contains these substances. As a result, their excess accumulates, which provokes an increase in cholesterol in the blood. This, in turn, leads to a deterioration in the functioning of the heart.

After 40 in women, the reproductive function gradually fades, sex hormones (estrogens) are produced in smaller quantities. But it is they who protect the body of a woman from possible jumps in cholesterol levels.

After forty-five, menopause approaches. Estrogen levels plummet. There is an increase in cholesterol, the reason for which is the physiological characteristics of the female body.

Just like men, women should pay special attention to their diet. You need to be very careful about eating eggs, dairy products, meat. It is recommended to eat more marine fish, including fatty ones. Vegetables and fruits should form the basis of your daily diet. Particularly attentive to themselves should be those women who suffer from extra pounds, move little and cannot give up cigarettes.

Cholesterol after 50 years in men

Visually, without conducting the necessary tests, it is impossible to determine the increase in cholesterol. However, in men after the age of fifty, characteristic symptoms may appear, including:

  • angina pectoris, that is, narrowing of the coronary heart arteries;
  • the appearance of skin neoplasms with fatty inclusions inside near the eyes;
  • pain in the legs with little physical activity;
  • mini strokes;
  • heart failure, shortness of breath.

After fifty, men enter a life-threatening period. Therefore, they simply have to monitor their cholesterol levels. Its rules are:

  • 51-55 years old: TC - 4.08-7.16 / LDL - 2.30-5.110 / HDL - 0.721-1.631;
  • 56-60 years old: OH - 4.03-7.14 / LDL - 2.29-5.270 / HDL - 0.721-1.841;
  • 61-70 years: OH - 4.08-7.09 / LDL - 2.55-5.450 / HDL - 0.781-1.941;
  • 71 and above: OH - 3.72-6.85 / LDL - 2.491-5.341 / HDL - 0.781-1.941.

Cholesterol after 50 years in women

After fifty, growth is normal general level cholesterol. In this case, special attention should be paid to the LDL indicator.

The norms of cholesterol in mature and elderly women are as follows:

As can be seen from the table, the interval in which the normal cholesterol level is located is very large. However, do not exceed the established limits.

In older women who are already sixty years old, the concentration in the blood of total cholesterol can reach 7.691 mmol / liter. It would be nice to stop at this figure up to 70 years, although a small increase (up to 7.81 mmol / l) is allowed.

“Good” cholesterol should not fall below 0.961, and “bad” cholesterol should not rise above 5.71.

At a venerable age - after seventy years- there is a tendency to lower cholesterol:

  • general - 4.481 to 7.351;
  • "bad" - 2.491 to 5.341;
  • "good" - 0.851 to 2.381.

An increase in the normative values ​​​​of a substance is a threat not only to a woman’s health, but also to her life.

Exercising, proper nutrition, the absence of bad habits, regular examinations - these are the factors that will help keep cholesterol at the proper level. Do not forget that this substance has many useful properties (for example, antioxidant), as well as the ability to synthesize sex hormones. Therefore, the presence of "good" cholesterol will help to stay healthy and maintain beauty.

High blood cholesterol levels are called hypercholesterolemia. At the same time, it can manifest itself as an increase in the level of LDL cholesterol (low density lipoprotein cholesterol) - "bad" cholesterol, and a decrease in HDL cholesterol (high density lipoprotein cholesterol) - an indicator of "good" cholesterol. This condition must be taken seriously, since hypercholesterolemia is one of the main risk factors for strokes and heart attacks. Common methods of therapy include a hypocholesterol diet, with the ineffectiveness of which doctors prescribe drugs that lower blood cholesterol levels.

If a biochemical blood test was carried out once, and did not reveal an increase in cholesterol levels, this does not mean that this substance will always be within the normal range. Its concentration in the blood often increases with age. The general recommendation of cardiologists is that every person over the age of 20 should undergo an examination to determine the level of cholesterol at least once every five years. For those who have risk factors for developing heart and vascular disease, studies should be performed more frequently.

Fortunately, the identified increase in cholesterol can be corrected, and it is not so difficult to achieve the norm if you follow all the recommendations.

What is a norm?

If the full spectrum of blood lipids is examined, then the level of total cholesterol (TC), low density lipoproteins, high density lipoproteins and triglycerides is determined. However, for periodic monitoring, one or two indicators are sufficient (usually, OH and LDL cholesterol). The results are characterized as follows:

OH ≤ 5.2 mmol / l - within normal limits (or below 200 mg / dl for some laboratories);
LDL cholesterol (“bad” cholesterol) ≤ 4.82 mmol/L (185 mg/dL);
HDL cholesterol (“good” cholesterol): at least 1 mmol/l (40 mg/dl) in men, 1.2 mmol/l (46 mg/dl) in women.

With the right drug therapy and following all recommendations for diet and lifestyle changes, you can achieve a significant reduction in cholesterol, or even return all indicators to normal within 6 weeks.

Here are eleven tips for lowering cholesterol from cardiology health experts:

1. Determine your target cholesterol level

If already identified elevated level cholesterol, it is necessary to find out to what extent it is desirable to reduce this indicator. The standard norm may differ from that required for a particular person. The individual target is determined by several factors: heredity (whether any of the close relatives had cardiovascular disease), the presence or absence of vascular disease in the patient himself, obesity, increased blood pressure(arterial hypertension), diabetes mellitus, smoking and other risk factors.

If all of the factors listed above result in a high risk of developing cardiovascular disease, the recommended level of low-density cholesterol (LDL) is less than 1.82 mmol/L (70 mg/dL).

If the risk is moderate, then a decrease in LDL cholesterol to 3.38 mmol / l (130 mg / dl) is sufficient.

At low risk, the optimal LDL cholesterol level is 4.16 mmol / l.

At any level of risk, treatment should begin as early as possible. However, early initiation of therapy is especially important in the presence of two or more risk factors - any delay leads to an increasing accumulation of cholesterol in atherosclerotic plaques on the walls of blood vessels. The result is a narrowing of the lumen, primarily of the coronary arteries that supply the heart.

2. Consider the need and feasibility of taking cholesterol-lowering medications

For every person who has elevated cholesterol levels, a lifestyle change is necessary. However, if cardiovascular risk is determined to be high, drug therapy may well be needed. A number of experts believe that any increase in blood lipids requires the appointment of drugs, since only they can quickly return the indicators to normal. At the same time, all cardiologists agree that long-term results can be achieved only if the basic rules are observed - proper nutrition, weight loss (in case of overweight or obesity) and smoking cessation.

Several classes of cholesterol-lowering drugs are currently available, including nicotinamide and fibrates. However, the first-line drug is statins. Research results show that they can lower LDL levels by 20-50%.

3. Move as much as possible

In addition to lowering the level of “bad” cholesterol (LDL cholesterol), regular physical activity increases “good” cholesterol (HDL cholesterol) by up to 10%. At the same time, any type of physical activity brings benefits, for example, walking at a moderate and fast pace. Especially useful is a walk in the evening after dinner, the duration of which should be at least 45 minutes. The ideal option is to measure the number of steps taken with a pedometer - a target of 10,000 steps per day. When sedentary, every hour you need to take a five-minute break.

The key to achieving the desired result is the regularity of physical activity. At the optimal level - a daily load, for most people it is enough to devote time to exercise at least five days a week.

4. Eliminate saturated fats from food

A typical medical recommendation is to reduce the consumption of eggs and other cholesterol-rich foods. However, recent research in the field healthy eating show that the cholesterol contained in the products is not the main "culprit" of the formation of atherosclerotic plaques. It's all about saturated fat, so for those who are used to scrambled eggs in butter, it's better to take care not to reduce the number of eggs eaten, but to exclude oil from the diet. It is quite possible to reduce the amount of saturated fat without compromising palatability products. It is enough to refuse margarine, lard, cooking oil. Eat less fatty meats and eat more fish and seafood. Such a change in diet will not only reduce the content of saturated fats, but also increase the intake of "useful" polyunsaturated acids.

5. Include as much dietary fiber in your diet as possible.

Fruits and vegetables, cereals are not only sources of antioxidants useful for the heart and blood vessels, but also suppliers of natural dietary fibers so useful for lowering cholesterol. So-called soluble fibers are especially useful in hypercholesterolemia. They absorb cholesterol in the digestive tract like a sponge. Beans, oats, and foods containing psyllium (psyllium husk) contain the most soluble fiber.

6. Include as many fish and other seafood as possible in your diet

Fish is the richest source of cholesterol-lowering omega-3 fatty acids. Nutritional supplements with fish oil can also lower total cholesterol and triglycerides.

Fish and seafood should be included in the diet at least 2-3 times a week. The largest amount of omega-3 fatty acids is found in salmon fish, however, an even more economical option is canned tuna- good for health. Plant sources of omega-3 fatty acids include soy, canola, flaxseed oil, and walnuts, but their omega-3 fatty acids are slightly different from fish. Therefore, it is so necessary to eat fish and other seafood.

7. Do not give up alcohol?

Studies have shown that moderate alcohol consumption can increase HDL-C, or "good" cholesterol, by up to 10%. According to the recommendations, the upper limit of the daily dose of alcohol is 24 g of pure alcohol, or 60 ml of a drink with a strength of 40 vol.% for men, and 12 g of pure alcohol for women. It is important to remember that even a slight excess of this limit leads to the complete disappearance of the positive effect for the heart and entails only the negative consequences of alcohol abuse.

8. Drink green tea

Green tea is a healthy alternative to the much-loved sodas. Numerous studies have confirmed that the components of green tea help to control the level of LDL cholesterol, or even reduce it if it exceeds the norm. Benefits have been shown even when taking drugs or supplements containing green tea extract.

9. Include nuts in your diet

Scientists have long discovered the fact that regular consumption of nuts can lead to lower levels of total cholesterol. Walnuts and almonds are especially useful in this regard. However, experts emphasize that nuts have a very high energy value, so about 50 g per day will be enough to maintain health.

10. Stanols

Recently, there are more and more food products enriched with plant stanols - substances that reduce blood cholesterol levels. It is necessary to include as many stanols as possible in the daily diet.

11. Stop smoking

The main negative effect of smoking on blood cholesterol levels is a pronounced decrease in HDL cholesterol levels (“good” cholesterol). And this, in turn, is a risk factor for the development of diseases of the heart and blood vessels.

Cholesterol is a fat-like substance from which atherosclerotic plaques are mainly formed, responsible for the development of atherosclerosis, the most dangerous disease of human arteries. Cholesterol, translated from Greek - hard bile.

This substance belongs to the class of lipids, and it may seem strange to many, but only 20% of it a person receives from food, in particular, animal fats, meat, certain types of proteins, and other products. And the remaining 80% of cholesterol is produced in the human liver.

Cholesterol, an important building block for the cells of our body, it is involved in the metabolism at the cellular level, being part of cell membranes. It is also important for the production of the most important sex hormones, such as testosterone, estrogen, and cortisol. In its pure form, there is not much cholesterol in the body, it is mainly present in the composition of special compounds, the so-called lipoproteins. These compounds come in low density, which is simply called bad LDL cholesterol, and high density, that is, good HDL.

Total, good and bad cholesterol

Everyone talks about the dangers of cholesterol for humans, and it seems that the less it is in our body, the better. However, you should know that cholesterol is very important for the normal functioning of all systems and organs of the human body. It all depends on the level of this substance in the blood, on its norm. we have described in detail in our article.

Cholesterol in women and men in medicine is usually distinguished into bad and good. The one that settles inside the walls of the arteries, forming the same plaques, is "bad»cholesterol of low or very low density, it combines with apoproteins (special types of protein) and forms fat-protein complexes - LDL. Dangerous for health is the increase in the level of this particular cholesterol. The norms for women and men, as well as the results of cholesterol tests, are expressed according to various laboratory methods in mmol / l, or in mg / dl.

  • In a healthy person, the value Normal LDL cholesterol is considered to be less than 4 mmol/L (160 mg/dL). Exceeding this value should be considered as a pathology, which should be corrected by diet or intake. medicines. But - this question is ambiguous, since statins do not eliminate the cause of high cholesterol levels (diabetes mellitus, obesity, sedentary lifestyle), but simply suppress its production by the body and have a lot of serious problems. side effects. Many cardiologists believe that the potential dangers of statins outweigh the possible risk of cardiovascular accidents due to high cholesterol.
  • At coronary disease hearts or in individuals who have had a myocardial infarction, stroke, or suffering from angina pectoris, this result should be less than 2.5 mmol / l or 100 mg / dl.
  • People without heart disease, but with more than two risk factors, should keep the level of this cholesterol below 3.3 mmol / l or less than 130 mg / dl.

Fights bad cholesterol "good" or high density lipoprotein cholesterol HDL. Unlike the protein-fat complex that forms atherosclerotic plaques, “good” cholesterol performs an irreplaceable function in the body, it collects “bad” cholesterol from the inner walls of blood vessels and removes it to the liver for destruction. can develop not only with increased bad cholesterol, but also when the level of useful high-density cholesterol is reduced.

Therefore, the most negative option when interpreting the norm of cholesterol in women and men is an increased level of bad and a low level of good cholesterol. It is this combination that is observed in almost 60% of patients, especially those over the age of 50 years.

Unlike the bad good cholesterol is produced only by the body itself, it cannot be replenished through food, since with food a person receives only bad cholesterol (and that, only 20-30% with food, the rest is also produced by the body). The norm for women in terms of “good” cholesterol is slightly different from the norm for men, it is slightly higher. This indicator can be increased only by physical activity - medium and moderate physical activity on the body can increase its production.

In addition, physical activity reduces the accumulation of bad cholesterol from food. That is, if you have taken food with a high content of cholesterol, what should you do? To help the body remove it, active muscle work is needed. Therefore, to increase good cholesterol and reduce bad cholesterol (especially for people who have had a stroke or heart attack), you should move more, do moderate or intense exercise (if there are no contraindications).

It is also possible to increase the concentration of good cholesterol by taking a small amount of spirits, no more than 50 grams. per day or one glass of natural dry wine. Not more! This restriction also applies to very intense training or excessive physical labor, as well as the use of alcohol - in everything, measure and caution should be observed. Any tension in the body in excess of the norm, on the contrary, inhibits the synthesis of useful cholesterol in the body.

  • In a normal state of the cardiovascular system the norm of cholesterol in women and men for HDL should be more than 1 mmol / l. or 39 mg/dl.
  • In patients with ischemic heart disease who have had a stroke or heart attack, this level should be 1-1.5 mmol / l or 40-60 mg / dl.

Also, the analysis takes into account the concentration in the blood total cholesterol, which consists of the sum of good and bad cholesterol.

  • The level of cholesterol in the blood in women and men in terms of - cholesterol is the general norm - in a healthy person should not be more than 5.2 mmol / l or 200 mg / dl. If a young person has a slight excess of the norm, this should be considered as a pathology.

Even with a fairly high cholesterol level, unfortunately, there are no special warning bells, symptoms or signs, and the person does not realize that he has constricted (clogged) blood vessels and high cholesterol.

Without controlling the rate of cholesterol, women and men do not think about it until a heart attack or stroke appears or occurs.

You should regularly check your cholesterol level and try to prevent its growth, in order to avoid the terrible complications of atherosclerosis, leading to serious diseases.

Who needs to control their cholesterol levels

A person who is generally healthy and does not feel any ailments very rarely wonders about the state of his blood vessels, and in particular the level of cholesterol. Those who suffer from hypertension - high blood pressure, have problems with the cardiovascular system, should monitor their cholesterol levels to prevent its negative effects. It is also worth taking care of this problem:

  • For those who smoke
  • Overweight people
  • People with hypertension
  • Persons with heart failure, CVD diseases
  • People with a sedentary lifestyle
  • Men over 40
  • Women from menopause
  • To all the elderly

To find out your cholesterol level, you should do a biochemical blood test. The analysis can be taken in almost any clinic, for this they take approximately 5 milliliters of blood from the cubital vein. It is important to know that before taking a cholesterol test, you should not eat anything for 12 hours, limit yourself to physical activity. However, it is not always possible, time and desire to go to the clinic every time, take a referral, take an analysis. Therefore, you can get a home device for measuring cholesterol levels with disposable test strips. It is quite small and not very difficult to use.

Deciphering a blood test for cholesterol

The only way to know if your cholesterol level is high is through a blood test. As we have already said, in the results of a biochemical blood test there will be three indicators for cholesterol - total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol and LDL cholesterol.

The norms for each of them are different, in addition, recently they began to distinguish between norms for people of different ages, as well as cholesterol norms for women and cholesterol norms for men. You should also be aware that there is no exact number indicating the rate of cholesterol. There are recommendations in what range cholesterol should be in a healthy man or woman; a deviation from this range up or down may be the result of a disease.

Can the result of the analysis be trusted? In the laboratories of our polyclinics, specialists evaluated the accuracy of determining cholesterol in the blood. As a result, it turned out that errors are allowed in 75% of laboratories. Therefore, it is better to take an analysis in certified laboratories by the All-Russian Certification Center.

The norm of cholesterol in the blood in women

  • Total cholesterol: the norm in women is from 3.6 to 5.2 mmol / l,
    moderately elevated 5.2 - 6.19 mmol / l
    significantly increased - more than 6.19 mmol / l
  • LDL cholesterol: the norm is 3.5 mmol / l, more than 4.0 mmol / l is considered high.
  • HDL cholesterol: the norm is from 0.9 to 1.9 mmol / l, at a level of less than 0.78, the likelihood of developing atherosclerosis increases three times.
Age Total (mmol/l)
up to 5 borders 2.90-5.18
5-10 borders 2.26-5.30
10-15 borders 3.21-5.20
15-20 borders 3.10-5.20
20-25 borders 3.16-5.59
25-30 borders 3.32-5.75
30-35 borders 3.37-5.96
35-40 borders 3.63-6.27
40-45 borders 3.81-6.53
45-50 borders 3.94-6.86
50-55 borders 4.20-7.38
55-60 borders 4.45-7.77
60-65 borders 4.45-7.69
65-70 borders 4.43-7.85
70 and> borders 4.48-7.25

Norm of cholesterol in men

  • Cholesterol is common: the norm in men is the same as in women.
  • The norm of "bad" cholesterol in men is different: 2.25 - 4.82 mmol / l.
  • HDL cholesterol in the blood in men: the norm is from 0.7 to 1.7 mmol / l.
Age
Total (mmol/l)
up to 5 borders 2.95-5.25
5-10 borders 3.13-5.25
10-15 borders 3.08-5.23
15-20 borders 2.93-5.10
20-25 borders 3.16-5.59
25-30 borders 3.44-6.32
30-35 borders 3.57-6.58
35-40 borders 3.78-6.99
40-45 borders 3.91-6.94
45-50 borders 4.09-7.15
50-55 borders 4.09-7.17
55-60 borders 4.04-7.15
60-65 borders 4.12-7.15
65-70 borders 4.09-7.10
70 and > borders 3.73-6.86

Triglycerides also play an important role in assessing the state of lipid metabolism, their norm for men and women is approximately the same:

  • Norm of triglycerides in women and men: up to 2 mmol / l (less than 200 mg / dl.)
  • Maximum, but acceptable rate: up to 2.2 mmol / l (200 - 400 mg / dl.)
  • High triglycerides: 2.3 - 5.6 mmol/L (400 - 1000 mg/dL)
  • Very high: 5.7 mmol/L or more (over 1000 mg/dL)

Conclusion: To normalize fat metabolism, you should strive for the following cholesterol test result:

Results of analyzes in various laboratories

It should be borne in mind that the methods and tests for determining biochemical parameters in various medical laboratories may vary:

  • Total cholesterol: the norm for men and women is 3.0 - 6.0 mmol / l
  • LDL in women: the norm is 1.92 - 4.51 mmol / l, in men 2.25 - 4.82 mmol / l
  • HDL in women: the norm is 0.86 - 2.28 mmol / l. in men 0.7 - 1.73 mmol / l.

Accordingly, laboratory standards may also differ, so ideally you need to focus on the standards of the laboratory where you did the analysis. Remember, the normal level of cholesterol in the blood is the health of your blood vessels. You can regulate cholesterol levels by making certain changes in the diet, reducing or increasing the amount of fat, meat products, etc. But all these changes should be agreed with the doctor.

Atherogenic coefficient

There is also such an indicator of the ratio of harmful and beneficial cholesterol in the body - this is the coefficient of atherogenicity.

CAT = (Total Cholesterol - HDL)/HDL

  • 2-2.8 - a normal figure for young people 20-30 years old
  • 3-3.5 - usually occurs in people over 30 years old, but without signs of atherosclerosis
  • 4 and above - that is, such a predominance of bad cholesterol usually occurs with coronary heart disease.

Other tests for high risk of atherosclerosis

In addition to cholesterol tests, with age and at a high risk of atherosclerosis, it is necessary to look at the results of a coagulogram. This is an assessment of the blood clotting system. And in it, such an indicator as PTI (prothrombin index) and INR (international normalization ratio) are important and determine the risks of bleeding. Also from the general blood test, the hemoglobin indicator is important.

Hormone analysis thyroid gland, in particular CT4 (free thyroxine), can also be prescribed by a doctor in a comprehensive examination of the patient, since this hormone produced by the thyroid gland helps to lower cholesterol.

Cholesterol is chemical compound, a natural fatty alcohol, of a soft, waxy consistency found in all parts of the body, including nervous system, skin, muscles, liver, intestines and heart. Cholesterol is naturally produced in the body and is a structural combination of lipids (fats) and steroids. Cholesterol is the building block for cell membranes and hormones such as estrogen and testosterone. About 80% of the cholesterol in the body is produced by the liver, and the rest comes from our diet. The main source of cholesterol are meat, poultry, fish and dairy products. After eating, cholesterol is absorbed from the intestines and accumulates in the liver. The liver has the ability to regulate cholesterol levels in the blood and can release cholesterol if the body needs it. Cholesterol is insoluble in water, but highly soluble in fats.

Our body needs a small amount of cholesterol in order to function properly. But excess cholesterol can clog arteries and lead to heart disease. The risk of developing heart disease and atherosclerosis increases as blood cholesterol levels increase.

More than half of the adult population has blood cholesterol levels higher than the desirable range. High cholesterol levels are often noted in childhood. Some children may be at higher risk due to a family history of high cholesterol and the family's dietary habits.

Before menopause, women generally have lower levels of total cholesterol than men of the same age. They also have higher levels of HDL cholesterol, the "good" cholesterol. One reason is estrogen: the female sex hormone raises HDL cholesterol levels.

Estrogen is produced during childbearing years and drops during menopause. After age 55, women's risk of developing high cholesterol begins to rise.

Cholesterol helps the body produce hormones, bile acids, and vitamin D. Cholesterol is carried in the blood throughout the body to be used in all parts of the body.

Where is cholesterol found?

Cholesterol is found in eggs, dairy products, animal meat and poultry meat. Egg yolks and organ meats (liver, kidney, thymus, and brain) are particularly high in cholesterol. Fish usually contains less cholesterol than other types of meat, but some shellfish, such as shrimp, crayfish, and fish roe, are also high in cholesterol. Plant foods: Vegetables, fruits, grains, cereals, nuts and seeds do not contain cholesterol. Fat content is not an objective measure of cholesterol content. For example, meat, liver contain almost no fat, but are very high in cholesterol.

Why does blood cholesterol rise?

  • Improper nutrition, consumption of large amounts of milk, meat and fatty foods.
  • Sedentary lifestyle.
  • hereditary factors. If family members have high cholesterol, you are also at risk.
  • Smoking. Smoking can lower your good cholesterol levels.
  • Overweight.
  • Gender and age. After reaching the age of 20, cholesterol levels naturally begin to rise. In men, cholesterol levels generally level off after age 50. In women, cholesterol levels remain fairly low until menopause, after which they rise to about the same levels as men.
  • Health status. Having certain medical conditions, such as diabetes or hypothyroidism, can cause high cholesterol levels.
  • Mental tension and stress. Several studies have shown that stress raises blood cholesterol levels over the long term. However, this relationship is likely to be indirect. When some people are under stress, they console themselves by eating fatty foods. The saturated fats and cholesterol in these foods contribute to high blood cholesterol levels.

"Bad" and "good" cholesterol

Some cholesterol is considered "good" and some is considered "bad". Therefore, different blood tests are needed to measure each type of cholesterol individually.

To determine the level of cholesterol, as a rule, take blood from a vein.

LDL (“bad”) cholesterol

Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL or beta-lipoproteins) is referred to as "bad" cholesterol. If too much "bad" cholesterol circulates in the blood, it begins to gradually settle on the inner walls of the arteries, forming the so-called plaques, which make the arteries narrow and less flexible. This disease is called atherosclerosis. Blockage of arteries by atherosclerotic plaques can lead to a stroke or heart attack.

HDL (“good”) cholesterol

High-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL or alpha lipoproteins) is the "good" cholesterol. About 25-33% of cholesterol is transported by "good" lipoproteins. High HDL levels protect against heart attacks. Low HDL levels (less than 40 mg/dL) increase the risk of heart disease.

Triglycerides

Triglyceride is a form of fat created in the body. An increase in triglycerides can be associated with being overweight, physical inactivity, smoking, alcohol consumption, and a diet high in carbohydrates. People with elevated triglyceride levels very often have high blood cholesterol - high LDL and low HDL.

The body converts excess calories, sugar, and alcohol into triglycerides, a type of fat that travels in the blood and is stored in fat cells throughout the body. People who are overweight, sedentary, smoke or drink tend to have high triglyceride levels, just like those on a high carbohydrate diet. A triglyceride level of 150 or higher increases the risk of developing metabolic syndrome, which is associated with heart disease and diabetes.

Lipoprotein

LP is a genetic variation of LDL (low density lipoprotein). High Lp levels are a major risk factor for the premature development of fatty deposits in the arteries, leading to coronary heart disease.

How to Prepare for a Cholesterol Test

To get the most accurate results, you should not eat or drink anything for 9 to 12 hours before the test. You can drink water, but avoid soft drinks such as coffee, tea, or sodas. Your healthcare provider may tell you to stop taking medications that may affect the results of the test.

Who needs a cholesterol test and when?

At least 10% of the population suffers from hypercholesterolemia.

Screening for Children: High cholesterol levels in children are unfortunately not uncommon these days, so every child over the age of two who has a parent with a cholesterol level of 240mg/dL or more should get tested.

Screening for adults: The first screening test is performed at the age of 20 - 35 in men, and between the ages of 20 - 45 in women. A follow-up inspection should be carried out every 5 years. Screening is recommended for those who develop diabetes mellitus, high blood pressure, heart disease, or other diseases caused by atherosclerosis.

Follow-up testing is done to determine how well diets and medications control high cholesterol.

This test is often done to determine the risk of developing coronary heart disease. High blood cholesterol and triglycerides have been linked to heart attack and stroke.

General test cholesterol can be done as part of a lipid profile, which also checks for LDL (low density lipoprotein), HDL (high density lipoprotein) and triglycerides.

Indications for the appointment of a cholesterol test:

  • Assessment of the risk of atherosclerotic changes in the walls of the vessel.
  • In the complex assessment of the synthetic function of the liver.
  • Lipid metabolism disorders

Normal levels of cholesterol in the blood

Total cholesterol is an important indicator of both bad and good cholesterol. Other laboratory tests are performed to measure specific amounts of good (HDL) and bad (LDL) cholesterol. LDL and HDL levels are preferred under certain circumstances.

The norm of total cholesterol in the blood: 3.0 - 6.0 mmol / l.
Norm of LDL cholesterol for men: 2.25 - 4.82 mmol / l.
Norm of LDL cholesterol for women: 1.92 - 4.51 mmol / l.
Norm of HDL cholesterol for men: 0.7 - 1.73 mmol / l.
Norm of HDL cholesterol for women: 0.86 - 2.2 mmol / l.

LDL levels are the best predictor of cardiovascular disease and determine how your high cholesterol should be treated.

Indicators and norm of triglycerides in the blood

Less than 200 mg/dl: normal triglycerides
200 - 400 mg/dl: maximum allowed level
400 - 1000 mg/dl: high triglycerides
More than 1000 mg/dl: very high triglycerides

mg/dl = milligram per deciliter.

Causes of high total cholesterol levels:


  • Biliary cirrhosis
  • Familial hyperlipidemia
  • High fat diet
  • Hypothyroidism
  • nephrotic syndrome
  • uncontrolled diabetes
  • Liver disease, inside
  • and extrahepatic cholestasis
  • Malignant tumors of the pancreas and prostate
  • Glomerulonephritis
  • Alcoholism
  • Isolated growth hormone deficiency
  • Idiopathic hypercalcemia
  • Acute intermittent porphyria
  • Hypertension, ischemic heart disease, acute myocardial infarction
  • thalassemia major
  • Pregnancy
  • Removal of the ovaries

Any acute illness can raise or lower the total amount of cholesterol in the blood. If you had an acute illness in the 3 months prior to your cholesterol test, you should repeat the test 2 or 3 months later. Even an arthritis outbreak can affect your cholesterol levels.

Causes of low cholesterol:

  • Hyperthyroidism
  • Liver disease
  • Malabsorption (insufficient absorption of nutrients from gastrointestinal tract)
  • Malnutrition
  • Pernicious anemia
  • Sepsis
  • Tangier disease (alpha-lipoprotein deficiency)
  • Hypoproteinemia
  • Malignant tumors of the liver
  • Sideroblastic and megaloblastic anemia
  • Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Do I need to lower my cholesterol levels?

Reducing cholesterol levels is now the most important factor in the prevention of atherosclerosis and heart attacks.

The benefits of lowering "bad" LDL cholesterol are:

  • Reducing or stopping the formation of new cholesterol plaques on artery walls
  • Reduction of existing plaques of cholesterol on the walls of the arteries and expansion of the lumen of the arteries
  • Prevention of rupture of cholesterol plaques, which initiates the formation of blood clots that block blood vessels
  • Reducing the risk of heart attacks
  • Reducing the risk of stroke
  • Reducing the risk of peripheral artery disease
  • Reducing narrowing of the coronary arteries, carotid and cerebral arteries (arteries that supply blood to the brain), and the femoral artery, which supplies blood to the legs.

To what level should blood cholesterol be reduced?

Many people are able to lower their cholesterol through a combination of medications and lifestyle changes. But to what level should it be reduced? For people with diabetes or a high risk of developing heart disease, an LDL of less than 100 is desirable. If you already have heart disease or coronary heart disease, some doctors recommend lowering your LDL to 70 or below.

How to lower high blood cholesterol levels?

  • Limit your total fat intake to 25-35% of your total daily calorie intake. Less than 7% of daily calories should be from saturated fat, of which no more than 10% should be from polyunsaturated fats, and no more than 20% of monounsaturated fats.
  • Daily intake of cholesterol should be no more than 300 mg for healthy people and 200 mg for those at higher risk of high blood cholesterol.
  • The introduction of a large amount of fiber in the diet.
  • Increased physical activity.

The dietary guidelines for children are similar. It is very important that children get enough calories to maintain their growth and activity levels. It is equally important that the child achieves and maintains the desired body weight.

Proper nutrition and diet for high cholesterol e

No more than 35% of your daily calories should come from fat. But not all fats are the same. Saturated fats - fats from animal products and tropical oils, such as palm oil, increase LDL cholesterol. Trans fats carry the double whammy of increasing bad cholesterol while lowering good cholesterol. These two unhealthy fats are found in many baked goods, fried foods (donuts, french fries, chips), margarine, and cookies. Unsaturated fats can lower LDL when combined with other healthy diet changes. They are found in avocados, olive oil, and peanut butter.

  • Eat foods that are naturally low in fat. These include whole grains, fruits and vegetables.
  • Read labels carefully. Avoid foods high in saturated fat. Eating too much of this type of fat can lead to heart disease.
  • Choose lean protein foods: soy, fish, skinless chicken, very lean meats, and low-fat or 1%-2% dairy products.
  • Look out for the words "hydrogenated" or "partially hydrogenated" trans fats on food labels. Do not eat foods with such inscriptions.
  • Limit the amount of fried foods you eat.
  • Limit the amount of prepared baked goods (such as donuts, cookies, and crackers) you eat. They may contain a lot of fats which are not healthy.
  • Eat less egg yolks, hard cheeses, whole milk, cream, ice cream, butter, fatty meats. Reduce portions of meat. For example, one egg has 186 mg of cholesterol.
  • Use healthy cooking methods for fish, chicken, and lean meats such as roasting, stewing, and steaming.
  • Eat foods high in fiber: oats, bran, peas and lentils, beans, some grains, and brown rice.
  • Learn how to shop for and prepare foods that are healthy for your heart. Learn how to read food labels and choose healthy foods. Stay away from fast foods.

The following two sample menus are provided as an example to compare calories and fat sources:

An example of an average person's menu

Breakfast

1 egg
2 slices white bread with 1 teaspoon butter
2 pieces of sausage
1/2 cup coffee

Snack

1 bun or donut

Dinner

1 sandwich with ham and cheese and white bread
1 teaspoon mayonnaise
30 g potato chips
350 g soft drinks
2 chocolate chip cookies

Snack

chocolate bar

Dinner

100 g fried meat
1 medium baked potato
1 tablespoon sour cream
1 teaspoon butter
1 slice white bread with 1/2 teaspoon butter

Total: 2,000 calories, 84g fat, 34g saturated fat, 425mg cholesterol. Diet 38% fat, 15% saturated fat.

Sample low fat menu

Breakfast

1 glass oatmeal or muesli
1 slice whole grain bread
1 banana

Snack

1 raisin bagel with 1/2 teaspoon butter

Dinner

Turkey sandwich (85-100 g) on ​​rye bread with salad
1 orange
3 rice or oatmeal cookies
1 glass apple juice

Snack

Low fat yogurt with fruit

Dinner

85-100g fried chicken breast
1 medium baked potato
1 tablespoon low fat yogurt
1/2 cup broccoli
1 piece of bread with jam
1 cup skim milk

Total: 2,000 calories, 38g fat, 9.5g saturated fat, 91mg cholesterol. Diet 17% fat, 4% saturated fat.

Low cholesterol diets Low saturated fat diets

Fat

  • Limit your total intake of fats and oils.
  • Avoid butter, margarine, baking powder, lard, palm and coconut oils.
  • Skip mayonnaise, salad dressings and sauces unless they are homemade low-fat ingredients.
  • Limit your chocolate intake.
  • Choose low-fat or low-fat foods, such as low-fat mayonnaise or non-hydrogenated peanut butter, low-fat or low-fat salad dressings, or low-fat sauces.
  • Use vegetable oils such as canola or olive oil.
  • Choose margarine that does not contain trans fatty acids.
  • Use nuts in moderation.
  • Read ingredient labels carefully to determine what amount and type of fat is in a food.
  • Limit or eliminate your intake of saturated and trans fats.
  • Avoid high-fat processed foods and convenience foods.

Meat and meat substitutes

  • Choose fish, chicken, turkey, and lean meats.
  • Use dried beans, peas, lentils, and tofu.
  • Limit egg yolks to three to four per week.
  • If you eat red meat, limit to no more than three servings per week.
  • Avoid fatty meats such as bacon, sausage, sausages, ham and ribs.
  • Avoid all organ meats, including liver.

Dairy

  • Choose skim or low-fat milk, kefir, and cottage cheese.
  • Most cheeses are high in fat. Choose skim milk cheeses such as mozzarella and ricotta.
  • Choose light or low fat cheese and sour cream.
  • Avoid cream and sauces with cream.

Fruits and vegetables

  • Eat a variety of fruits and vegetables.
  • Use lemon juice, vinegar, or olive oil as a salad dressing.
  • Try not to add sauces, fat or vegetable oil.

Bread, cereals and grains

  • Choose whole grain breads, cereals, pasta and rice.
  • Avoid high-fat snacks such as muesli, cookies, pies, cakes, donuts and croissants.

Sweets and desserts

  • Choose homemade desserts made from unsaturated spreads or butter, low fat or skim milk and egg whites, or a substitute.
  • Try to eat sherbet, low-fat frozen yogurt, jam, low-fat pudding, or custard, gingerbread cookie or biscuit.
  • Avoid prolonged frying of food.
  • Trim visible fat from meat and remove skin from poultry before cooking.
  • Bake, stew, boil, steam poultry, fish and lean meats.
  • Drain the water and discard the fats that drip from the meat during cooking.
  • Don't add fat to your food.
  • Use vegetable oil to grease pots for cooking or baking.
  • Steam vegetables as a side dish.
  • Use herbs to flavor marinades and foods.

cholesterol and smoking

Quitting tobacco is a must in the fight against high cholesterol. When you stop smoking, your good cholesterol can improve by as much as 10%.

Cholesterol and physical activity

If you are healthy but not very active, start with aerobic exercise, it can increase your good cholesterol by 5% in the first two months. Regular exercise also lowers bad cholesterol levels. Choose exercises that raise your heart rate, such as running, swimming, or walking, for at least 30 minutes most days of the week. Classes should not exceed 30 minutes per set, two 15 minute sets work just as well.

Statins

Cholesterol-lowering medications may be used when lifestyle changes do not help lower LDL cholesterol to the desired level. The most effective and widely used drugs to lower cholesterol are called statins - these are the most commonly used and also the most powerful drugs to lower low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Clinical trials have shown that statins reduce the risk of heart attack (and stroke) and improve quality of life. Statins have virtually no side effects when used for a long period of time.

The following statins are currently on the pharmaceutical market:

  • Rosuvastatin (Crestor)
  • Fluvastatin sodium (Leskol)
  • Atorvastatin calcium (Lipitor)
  • Lovastatin (Mevacor)
  • Pravastatin sodium (Pravaxol)
  • Simvastatin (Zokor)

Statins of natural origin

- Vitamin C. Vitamin C levels are directly related to cardiovascular health. Ascorbic acid is an effective natural statin that acts as an inhibitor in the production of low density lipoproteins. A large amount of vitamin C is found in citrus fruits (grapefruit, orange, lemon).
- Vitamin B3 (Niacin). B vitamins are powerful natural statins that come from green vegetables, meat, grains and milk.
- Garlic. Frequent consumption of garlic helps to normalize cholesterol levels. In just 4-12 weeks of regularly eating garlic, blood cholesterol levels are significantly reduced. In addition, garlic slows down the formation of low-density lipoproteins and cholesterol in the blood vessels.
- Canadian goldenseal (Curcumin). Curcumin, as a natural statin, is effective in the treatment of all diseases of the cardiovascular system. Curcumin stimulates the production of cholesterol by the liver and the removal of excess cholesterol from the body.
- Cellulose. Regular consumption of fiber-rich cereals, oatmeal, barley, certain vegetables and fruits, beans, carrots, apples, avocados, berries - helps in lowering cholesterol levels. The fiber in these foods acts as a natural statin, transporting excess cholesterol to the intestines and preventing it from circulating and clotting in the blood.
- Fish fat. Fish oil contains omega-3 fatty acids that regulate lipid production. Sources of fish oil are oil of oily fish, salmon, mackerel. In addition, fish oil is available in the form of capsules.
- Flax seeds. Another powerful natural statin is flaxseed, which contains a similar amount of omega-3 fatty acids.
- Red fermented rice extract. This natural statin is used in many Asian cuisines as an ingredient to add color and flavor to dishes. A by-product of fermentation, monacolin K, helps lower cholesterol and triglycerides.
- Policanol. Effective natural statin. It is made from sugar cane and comes in the form of capsules. The main advantages of policanol are the ability to prevent blood clots, regulate blood pressure, reduce low-density lipoprotein levels. In addition, Policanol is effective in the fight against excess weight.
- Fermented soy products. Soy products - such as tofu, miso, tempeh - are also effective in lowering cholesterol levels and act as natural statins.
- Artichoke, basil . Other herbs that may lower cholesterol include fenugreek seeds, artichoke, yarrow leaves, and basil.

Cholesterol-lowering drugs

Fibrates are effective drugs which lower blood triglyceride levels. Fibrates inhibit the production of very low density lipoproteins in the liver and accelerate the removal of triglycerides from the blood. Fibrates are also effective in raising blood levels of HDL cholesterol, however, fibrates are not effective in lowering LDL cholesterol levels. Doctors may consider combining fibrates with statins. This combination will not only lower LDL cholesterol levels, but also lower blood triglycerides and increase HDL cholesterol levels.

Fibrates can also only be used to prevent heart attacks in patients with elevated blood triglycerides and low HDL cholesterol.

Bile acid preparations bind bile acids. This reduces the amount of bile acid returned to the liver, which allows the liver to produce more bile acids to replace the lost bile acids in the stool. In order to produce more bile acids, the liver converts more cholesterol into bile acids, which lowers blood cholesterol levels.

Nicotinic acid (vitamin B3 or niacin) is a B vitamin. In the treatment of blood cholesterol and triglyceride disorders, high doses (1-3 grams per day) of nicotinic acid are essential. Nicotinic acid is available in several formulations. Nicotinic acid is the most effective tool in raising HDL cholesterol, and moderately effective in lowering LDL cholesterol and triglycerides. Used alone, it can raise HDL cholesterol levels by 30% or more. However, nicotinic acid is not as effective as statins for lowering LDL cholesterol.

What are cholesterol absorption inhibitors?

This is a relatively new class of cholesterol-lowering drugs that prevents absorption of cholesterol from the intestines. Selective cholesterol uptake inhibitors are most effective in lowering LDL (bad cholesterol), but may also have modest effects in lowering triglycerides (blood fats), and raising HDL (good cholesterol). One such drug is ezetimibe (Zetia)

Indications: Ezetimibe (Zetia) lowers blood cholesterol levels by reducing the absorption of cholesterol from the intestines. Used in combination with statins, it lowers total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and triglycerides. May raise HDL cholesterol levels. Combining ezetimibe with statins is more effective than either drug alone.

Lunasin (Lunasin) - a new drug for lowering cholesterol

Modern medicine has another modern drug to lower cholesterol levels. This is the latest development of American scientists. The drug contains an extract of their soybeans called Lunasin (Lunasin). In addition to the ability to lower cholesterol, drugs based on Lunasin have antioxidant and anti-cancer effects, help maintain normal weight, increase immunity and have anti-inflammatory effects.

Cholesterol, what to ask your doctor?

Below are some questions you can ask your doctor or nurse to help you take care of your cholesterol levels.

What is cholesterol level?
What level of cholesterol in the blood is considered normal?
What does my cholesterol level mean?
What are the values ​​of HDL ("good" cholesterol) and LDL ("bad") cholesterol?
Is my cholesterol level abnormal?
How can you lower your blood cholesterol levels?
How often should cholesterol levels be measured?
How to maintain normal cholesterol in the blood?
What medications should I take to treat high cholesterol?
Do they have any side effects?
What should I do if I miss a drug?
Are there foods, other medications, vitamins, or herbal supplements that can lower my cholesterol?
What are statins?
What can replace statins?
How should you eat to lower your cholesterol?
What are low fat foods?
What types of fats are good for my diet?
How can I tell food labels how much fat they contain?
What are the ways to eat healthy when I go to a restaurant?
Can I eat at fast food restaurants again?
Should you limit your salt intake? Can I use other spices to improve the taste of food?
Does alcohol increase cholesterol?
Does smoking increase cholesterol?
Can you drink alcohol if you have high cholesterol?
What is the best way to start an exercise program to lower cholesterol?
Are there activities or exercises that are not safe for me?
How long and how hard can I exercise to lower my cholesterol?
What symptoms should alert me?

What can an average, ordinary person without medical education about cholesterol? It is worth asking anyone, as several standard calculations, stamps and considerations will immediately follow. Cholesterol can be of two types: “good” and “bad”, cholesterol is the cause, because when it accumulates, it settles on the walls of blood vessels and forms plaques. This is where the complex of knowledge of a simple layman ends.

Which of this knowledge is true, which is just speculation, and which has not been said?

What is cholesterol?

Few people actually know what cholesterol is. However, ignorance does not prevent the majority from considering it an extremely harmful and dangerous substance to health.

Cholesterol is a fatty alcohol. Both in domestic and foreign medical practice, a different name for the substance is also used - “cholesterol”. The role of cholesterol cannot be overestimated. This substance is found in the cell membranes of animals and is responsible for giving them strength.

The largest amount of cholesterol is involved in the formation of erythrocyte cell membranes (about 24%), liver cell membranes account for 17%, brain (white matter) - 15%, gray matter of the brain - 5-7%.

Useful properties of cholesterol

Cholesterol is very important for our body:

    Cholesterol is actively involved in the process of digestion, since without it the production of digestive salts and juices by the liver is impossible.

    Another important function of cholesterol is participation in the synthesis of male and female sex hormones (testosterone, estrogen, progesterone). A change in the concentration of fatty alcohol in the blood (both up and down) can lead to reproductive failure.

    Thanks to cholesterol, the adrenal glands can stably produce cortisol, and it is synthesized in dermal structures. As studies show, violations of the concentration of cholesterol in the blood lead to weakened immunity and many other malfunctions in the body.

    The vast majority of the substance is produced by the body on its own (about 75%) and only 20-25% comes from food. Therefore, according to studies, cholesterol levels can deviate in one direction or another depending on the diet.

Cholesterol "bad" and "good" - what's the difference?

With a new round of cholesterol hysteria in the 80-90s, they started talking from all sides about the exceptional harmfulness of fatty alcohol. Here are television programs of dubious quality, and pseudoscientific research in newspapers and magazines, and the opinions of low-educated doctors. As a result, a distorted information flow, which creates a fundamentally wrong picture. It is quite reasonable to believe that the lower the concentration of cholesterol in the blood, the better. Is this really so? As it turned out, no.

Cholesterol plays an essential role in the stable functioning of the human body as a whole and its individual systems. Fatty alcohol is traditionally divided into "bad" and "good". This is a conditional classification, since in fact cholesterol is not “good”, it cannot be “bad”. It has a single composition and a single structure. It all depends on which transport protein it will join. That is, cholesterol is dangerous only in a certain bound, not free state.

"bad" cholesterol(or low-density cholesterol) is able to settle on the walls of blood vessels and form layers-plaques that close the lumen of the blood vessel. When combined with apoproteins, cholesterol forms LDL complexes. With an increase in such cholesterol in the blood, the danger really exists.

Graphically, the fat-protein complex of LDL can be represented as follows:


Cholesterol is "good"(high-density cholesterol or HDL) differs from bad cholesterol in both structure and function. It cleanses the walls of blood vessels from "bad" cholesterol and sends a harmful substance for processing to the liver.

Norm of cholesterol in the blood by age




Norms of cholesterol in the blood in women by age

Age

total cholesterol

LDL cholesterol

HDL cholesterol

2.90-5.18 mmol/l

2.26 - 5.30 mmol/l

1.76 – 3.63 mmol/l

0.93 – 1.89 mmol/l

3.21-5.20 mmol/l

1.76 – 3.52 mmol/l

0.96 – 1.81 mmol/l

3.08 - 5.18 mmol/l

1.53 – 3.55 mmol/l

0.91 – 1.91 mmol/l

3.16 - 5.59 mmol/l

1.48 – 4.12 mmol/l

0.85 – 2.04 mmol/l

3.32 - 5.75 mmol/l

1.84 – 4.25 mmol/l

0.96 – 2.15 mmol/l

3.37 – 5.96 mmol/l

1.81 – 4.04 mmol/l

0.93 – 1.99 mmol/l

3.63 – 6.27 mmol/l

1.94 – 4.45 mmol/l

0.88 – 2.12 mmol/l

3.81 - 6.53 mmol/l

1.92 – 4.51 mmol/l

0.88 – 2.28 mmol/l

3.94 – 6.86 mmol/l

2.05 – 4.82 mmol/l

0.88 – 2.25 mmol/l

4.20 - 7.38 mmol/l

2.28 – 5.21 mmol/l

0.96 – 2.38 mmol/l

4.45 - 7.77 mmol/l

2.31 – 5.44 mmol/l

0.96 – 2.35 mmol/l

4.45 - 7.69 mmol/l

2.59 – 5.80 mmol/l

0.98 – 2.38 mmol/l

4.43 - 7.85 mmol/l

2.38 – 5.72 mmol/l

0.91 – 2.48 mmol/l

4.48 - 7.25 mmol/l

2.49 – 5.34 mmol/l

0.85 – 2.38 mmol/l

In females, the cholesterol concentration is stable and is approximately at the same value up to and then increases.

When interpreting the results of laboratory tests, it is important to take into account not only gender and age, but also a number of additional factors that can significantly change the picture and lead an inexperienced doctor to incorrect conclusions:

    Season. Depending on the time of the year, the level of the substance may decrease or increase. It is known for certain that in the cold season (end of autumn-winter), the concentration increases by about 2-4%. A deviation of this value can be considered a physiological norm.

    Beginning of the menstrual cycle. In the first half of the cycle, the deviation can reach almost 10%, which is also a physiological norm. In the later stages of the cycle, an increase in cholesterol by 6-8% is observed. This is due to the peculiarities of the synthesis of fatty compounds under the influence of sex hormones.

    Bearing a fetus. Pregnancy is another reason for a significant increase in cholesterol due to a different intensity of fat synthesis. An increase of 12-15% of the norm is considered normal.

    Diseases. Diseases such as arterial hypertension in the acute phase (we are talking about sudden attacks), acute respiratory diseases often cause a significant decrease in the concentration of cholesterol in the blood. The effect can last from a day to a month or more. The decrease is observed in the range of 13-15%.

    Malignant neoplasms. Contribute to a sharp decrease in the concentration of fatty alcohol. This process can be explained by the active growth of pathological tissue. For its formation, many substances are required, including fatty alcohol.

Cholesterol in women over 40

    40 - 45 years old. The norm of total cholesterol is 3.81-6.53 mmol / l, LDL-cholesterol - 1.92-4.51 mmol / l, HDL-cholesterol - 0.88-2.28.

    45-50 years old. The norm of total cholesterol is 3.94-6.86 mmol / l, LDL-cholesterol - 2.05-4.82 mmol / l, HDL-cholesterol - 0.88-2.25.

Cholesterol in women over 50

    50-55 years old. The norm of total cholesterol is 4.20 - 7.38 mmol / l, LDL cholesterol - 2.28 - 5.21 mmol / l, HDL cholesterol - 0.96 - 2.38 mmol / l.

    55-60 years old. The norm of total cholesterol is 4.45 - 7.77 mmol / l, LDL cholesterol - 2.31 - 5.44 mmol / l, HDL cholesterol - 0.96 - 2.35 mmol / l.

Cholesterol in women over 60

    60-65 years old. The norm of total cholesterol is 4.43 - 7.85 mmol / l, LDL cholesterol - 2.59 - 5.80 mmol / l, HDL cholesterol - 0.98 - 2.38 mmol / l.

    65-70 years old. The norm of total cholesterol is 4.20 - 7.38 mmol / l, LDL cholesterol - 2.38 - 5.72 mmol / l, HDL cholesterol - 0.91 - 2.48 mmol / l.

    After 70 years. The norm of total cholesterol is 4.48 - 7.25 mmol / l, LDL cholesterol - 2.49 - 5.34 mmol / l, HDL cholesterol - 0.85 - 2.38 mmol / l.

Norms of cholesterol in the blood in men by age

Age

total cholesterol

LDL cholesterol

HDL cholesterol

2.95-5.25 mmol/l

3.13 - 5.25 mmol/l

1.63 – 3.34 mmol/l

0.98 – 1.94 mmol/l

3.08-5.23 mmol/l

1.66 – 3.34 mmol/l

0.96 – 1.91 mmol/l

2.91 – 5.10 mmol/l

1.61 – 3.37 mmol/l

0.78 – 1.63 mmol/l

3.16 - 5.59 mmol/l

1.71 – 3.81 mmol/l

0.78 – 1.63 mmol/l

3.44 - 6.32 mmol/l

1.81 - 4.27 mmol/l

0.80 – 1.63 mmol/l

3.57 – 6.58 mmol/l

2.02 - 4.79 mmol/l

0.72 – 1.63 mmol/l

3.63 – 6.99 mmol/l

1.94 – 4.45 mmol/l

0.88 – 2.12 mmol/l

3.91 – 6.94 mmol/l

2.25 – 4.82 mmol/l

0.70 – 1.73 mmol/l

4.09 - 7.15 mmol/l

2.51 – 5.23 mmol/l

0.78 – 1.66 mmol/l

4.09 - 7.17 mmol/l

2.31 - 5.10 mmol/l

0.72 – 1.63 mmol/l

4.04 - 7.15 mmol/l

2.28 – 5.26 mmol/l

0.72 – 1.84 mmol/l

4.12 - 7.15 mmol/l

2.15 – 5.44 mmol/l

0.78 – 1.91 mmol/l

4.09 - 7.10 mmol/l

2.49 – 5.34 mmol/l

0.78 – 1.94 mmol/l

3.73 – 6.86 mmol/l

2.49 – 5.34 mmol/l

0.85 – 1.94 mmol/l

Thus, some conclusions can be drawn. Over time, the level of cholesterol in the blood gradually increases (the dynamics is in the nature of a direct proportional relationship: the more years - the higher the cholesterol). However, different sexes this process is not the same. In men, the level of fatty alcohol rises until the age of 50, and then begins to decline.

At-risk groups

Risk groups for elevated levels of "bad" cholesterol in the blood are determined by a number of risk factors:

  • Heredity;

    The presence of coronary heart disease (or coronary artery disease).

Heredity

In the 1960s and 1970s, it was axiomatically believed that the main cause of high blood cholesterol levels was an improper diet and the abuse of “harmful” foods. By the 90s, it turned out that malnutrition is just the “tip of the iceberg” and there are a number of factors in addition. One of these is the genetically determined specificity of metabolism.

How does the human body process certain substances directly? depends on heredity. The role here is played by both the characteristics of the father's metabolism and the characteristics of the mother's metabolism. A person "receives by inheritance" two sets of chromosomes. Meanwhile, studies have shown that as many as 95 genes are responsible for determining the concentration of cholesterol in the blood.

The number is considerable, given that defective copies of a particular gene are often found. According to statistics, every 500th person in the world carries one or more damaged genes (out of those 95) responsible for the processing of fatty alcohol. Moreover, more than a thousand mutations of these genes are known. Even if there is a situation in which a normal gene is inherited from one of the parents, and a damaged one from the other, the risk of problems with the concentration of cholesterol will remain high.

This is due to the nature of the defective gene. In the body, it becomes dominant, and it is he who is responsible for the method and features of cholesterol processing.

    Thus, if one or both parents had problems with cholesterol, with a probability of 25 to 75% the child will inherit this metabolic feature and will also have problems in the future. However, this does not always happen.

diet

Nutrition plays, although not a key role in the mechanism of the dynamics of cholesterol in the blood, it still significantly affects it. With food, as was said, no more than 25% of all fatty alcohol comes. What type of cholesterol it will turn into can be said depending on the foods eaten in parallel and the characteristics of metabolism. A product rich in cholesterol itself (egg, shrimp), eaten with fatty foods (mayonnaise, sausages, etc.), with a high degree of probability will lead to an increase in LDL-cholesterol levels.

The same effect will be if the person has inherited the defective gene. In the presence of a defective gene (or genes), the same result will occur even if nothing fatty was consumed along the way. The reason lies in the fact that the liver does not signal to reduce the production of its own cholesterol, and it continues to actively produce fatty acid. That is why, for example, people with a characteristic metabolism are not recommended to consume more than 4 eggs per week.


Excess weight

The role of excess weight in raising the level of cholesterol in the blood. It is not entirely clear what is the cause and what is the effect. However, according to statistics, almost 65% of overweight people have problems with the level of fatty alcohol in the blood, and its “bad” variety.

Hypodynamia (reduced physical activity)

A low level of physical activity is directly related to an increase in the concentration of cholesterol in the blood. The reason is stagnant processes and disturbances in the body's energy metabolism. With sufficient physical activity, the level of "bad" cholesterol usually decreases.

Instability of the thyroid gland

The influence of the degree of functioning of the thyroid gland and the level of cholesterol in the blood is mutual. As soon as the thyroid gland ceases to cope with its functions qualitatively, the concentration of fatty alcohol increases abruptly. At the same time, when cholesterol is elevated, and before it worked fine, this may change. The danger lies in the fact that such changes in the functioning of the thyroid gland are practically not diagnosed, while organic changes in the organ are already occurring.

Therefore, people who are prone to unstable cholesterol dynamics should be attentive to the thyroid gland, checking it regularly, and as soon as the initial symptoms of hypothyroidism (weakness, drowsiness and fatigue, etc.) begin to be observed, contact an endocrinologist immediately.

Liver and kidney problems

If there are problems with these two organs, cholesterol levels can also rise and fall uncontrollably.

Taking certain types of medications

Many drugs intended for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases can have some effect on the concentration of cholesterol in the circulatory system. So, beta-blockers (Verapamil, Diltiazem, etc.) slightly increase the level fatty acid. The same effect is caused by hormonal drugs to eliminate acne, etc.

The greater the number of risk factors that can be attributed to the anamnesis of a particular patient, the more likely the presence increased amount cholesterol in the blood.

Cholesterol - the main cause of atherosclerosis?

For the first time, the hypothesis of cholesterol as the most important factor in the development of atherosclerosis was formulated by N. Anichkov at the beginning of the 20th century (1912). To confirm the hypothesis, a rather dubious experiment was carried out.

For some time, the scientist injected a saturated and concentrated solution of cholesterol into the alimentary canal of rabbits. As a result of the “diet”, deposits of fatty alcohol began to form on the walls of the vessels of animals. And as a result of changing the diet to a normal one, everything became the same. The hypothesis was confirmed. But this method of confirmation cannot be called unambiguous.

The only thing that the experiment confirmed was that the consumption of cholesterol-containing foods is harmful to herbivores. However, man, like many other animals, is not a herbivore. A similar experiment conducted on dogs did not confirm the hypothesis.

Pharmaceutical giants played a significant role in inflating the cholesterol hysteria. And although by the 90s the theory was recognized as incorrect, and it was not shared by the vast majority of scientists, it was profitable for concerns to replicate false information in order to earn hundreds of millions of dollars on the so-called. statins (drugs to lower blood cholesterol).

In December 2006, the journal Neurology finally put an end to the cholesterol theory of the origin of atherosclerosis. The experiment was based on a control group of long-livers aged up to 100-105 years. As it turned out, almost all of them have a significantly elevated level of "bad" cholesterol in the blood, but none of them had atherosclerosis.

Thus, a direct link between the development of atherosclerosis and other cardiovascular diseases and the concentration of cholesterol in the blood has not been confirmed. If there is a role for cholesterol in the mechanism, it is not obvious and is of secondary, if not more distant, significance.

Thus, the role of cholesterol in the development of cardiovascular diseases is nothing more than a profitable and replicated myth!

Video: how to lower cholesterol? Ways to lower cholesterol at home


Education: Diploma of the Russian State Medical University N. I. Pirogov, specialty "Medicine" (2004). Residency at the Moscow State University of Medicine and Dentistry, diploma in Endocrinology (2006).

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