Food is not solely responsible for a high cholesterol level. The point with a vascular doctor.
Cholesterol is an essential lipid for the body. It enters the composition of cell membranes and in the manufacture of certain hormones like cortisol, or in the synthesis of vitamin D. The body meets its cholesterol needs by drawing this lipid from diet and in Having it made by the liver. If this fat is useful, its presence in excess can become problematic. This is precisely the case when the blood has too much “bad cholesterol”.
Too much bad cholesterol increases cardiovascular risks
To better understand, you should know that cholesterol is transported in the blood by two proteins called lipoproteins: high density lipoprotein or HDL-cholesterol (high density lipoprotein) and low density lipoprotein or ldl-cholesterol (low density lipoprotein) . The first type, HDL-cholesterol is considered “good cholesterol”. He plays a protective role against cardiovascular disease. Like a “garbage collector”, he collects excess cholesterol in blood vessels and transports it to the liver that eliminates it. The second, the LDL-cholesterol is taxed with “bad cholesterol”. When in excess, he infiltrates the wall of the arteries and contributes to the formation of atheroma plates (deposit of fat on the wall of the arteries) and gives atherosclerosis, an arteries’ disease at risk of Cardiovascular complications (infarction, ischemic stroke). In summary, people who have too much cholesterol (hypercholesterolemia) most often have an excessive concentration of bad cholesterol (LDL-cholesterol) in their blood.
The main causes of an excess cholesterol
In most cases hypercholesterolemia, this excess of cholesterol in the blood, results from bad eating habits. “Bunal hypercholesterolemia is linked to a diet too rich in cholesterol and saturated fatty acids in an organism that has trouble assimilating these excesses”explains Dr. Jean-François Renucci, vascular doctor at Public Assistance-Hospitals in Marseille (APHM La Timone) and ambassador to act for the hearts of women. Over time, lipids stored in abundance can end up cluttering the liver and making it sick: it is hepatic steatosis “or foie gras disease”. The overconsumption of certain foods is particularly incriminated in this elevation of cholesterol, namely: “Egg yolk, cold meats (liver pâté, rillettes, etc.), red meat, cheeses, butter, cream, whole milk, etc.”.
Hypercholesterolemia can also have a genetic cause: it is family hypercholesterolemia (HF). “The genetic form of hypercholesterolemia remains rare, it represents one case in 250”points the vascular doctor. This genetic predisposition results in an increase in cholesterol levels sometimes from birth and exposes to increased cardiovascular risk. In the case of an HF, high cholesterol is linked to a major excess of manufacture of the liver due to a defective gene. “Normally a third of cholesterol present in the body is brought by food and the remaining two thirds are brought by the liver. But in people with hypercholesterolemia, no, the ratio is no longer the same: Food brings 20% of cholesterol while the liver in 80% “details Dr. Jean-François Renucci. In the presence of family hypercholesterolemia, certain receptors on the liver responsible for catching cholesterol start to dysfunction and no longer manage to eliminate cholesterol that accumulates.
“Hypercholesterolemia induced by drug treatments remains rare”
Excess cholesterol can also be due to the taking of certain drugs such as antiretrovirals (in the treatment of HIV), certain beta -blockers (in the treatment of high blood pressure) or certain diuretics. “Hypercholesterolemia induced by drug treatments remains rare”specifies Dr. Renucci. A lack of thyroid hormones (hypothyroidism) can also cause an elevation of cholesterol in the blood. In people with hypothyroidism, the thyroid gland is unable to produce enough thyroid hormones. This disruption causes metabolic disorders and increases the level of poor blood cholesterol, and by ricochets, increases cardiovascular risk (atheroma risk). “It is by treating this hypothyroidism that we will succeed in normalizing the cholesterol level in the body”underlines the expert.
Overweight, a false culprit
Unlike a commonly accepted idea, the weight is not correlated with the elevation of cholesterol, rectifies our specialist. “Hypercholesterolemia is independent of weight, rectifies our expert. Some obese patients may not have cholesterol while skeletal people have it.” If an overweight does not necessarily have an influence on cholesterol, on the other hand, it can increase the level of triglycerides, another form of lipid less deleterious for cardiovascular health.
What to do in case of hypercholesterolemia?
In the event of high cholesterol, it is possible to act on two levers such as food and drug treatments. “If you have a small hypercholesterolemia, that is to say that excess cholesterol is not important, dietetic measures which consist in reducing its intake in cholesterol (by limiting foods rich in cholesterol) in its diet will be privileged. The most classic? “”Statins, which constitute the first -line treatment on current hypercholesterolemia forms. “ If these do not work well, especially in the event of family hypercholesterolemia or if we present a cardiovascular complication, other solutions will be envisaged such as PCSK9 inhibitory treatments, subcutaneous injections that reduce bad cholesterol.
Thank you to Dr. Jean-François Renucci, vascular doctor at APHM (the Timone) and ambassador to act for the hearts of women.
