Johns Hopkins -- Putting Portion Control to the Test
Oprah.com --Make Half of every Meal Fruits and Vegetables
The Mayo Clinic - Healthy Weight Pyramid: A sample menu
Oprah.com --Make Half of every Meal Fruits and Vegetables
The Mayo Clinic - Healthy Weight Pyramid: A sample menu
"What is Cholesterol ? continues >>
Category : books, guidelines - Heart Health - Cholesterol control and management - Advice, Tips and Nutrition to lower cholesterol levels
"The Harvard Medical School Guide to Lowering your Cholesterol"
Author:
Dr Mason W Freeman, Christine E Junge
Author:
Dr Mason W Freeman, Christine E Junge
"Cook'n Low Fat Low Cholesterol"
Recipes / Software
Author:
Betty Crocker / Health Series
Recipes / Software
Author:
Betty Crocker / Health Series
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Category : Cookbooks - Recipes to lower and control cholesterol - Heart Health - Hypertension - Atherosclerosis
- nutrition
Betty Crocker's Low-Fat, Low-Cholesterol Cooking Today,
By Betty Crocker Editors
By Betty Crocker Editors
1- INTRODUCTION.
Controlling or lowering Cholesterol levels is a constant preoccupation for those who have been diagnosed with hypercholesterolemia (high blood cholesterol), atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) or told that they suffered from Coronary Heart Disease.
The results they achieve in managing their cholesterol levels can sometimes vary greatly. One month, the "bad" LDL-Cholesterol measures at 81 mg/dL (2.1 mmol/L), and three months later the numbers are 132 mg/dL (3.41 mmol/L)! This can be very frustrating to either old-time or newly diagnosed cholesterolemics. Of course, maintaining a constant low level of LDL-C is imperative, given the serious health consequences of elevated cholesterol levels. On the other hand, other people constantly achieve great results in lowering their cholesterol levels. Why and how? They, of course, have mastered the basics pertaining to their condition. In order to do so, they have come to know the very nature of their ailment; they have a good knowledge of just what is cholesterol, of how it is produced in the body, and of the many ways to keep their numbers or values low. Having acquired a good understanding of how hypercholesterolemia works (its physiology), they can now master it. Actually, their blood cholesterol levels are often far better than those in the general population. Their risk ratio has also decreased considerably from the original starting level.
Cholesterol is viewed as a necessary component in the building of dangerous coronary artery plaque that causes heart disease. It is really worth the effort to learn about cholesterol and about how to control LDL-C levels.
Controlling or lowering Cholesterol levels is a constant preoccupation for those who have been diagnosed with hypercholesterolemia (high blood cholesterol), atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) or told that they suffered from Coronary Heart Disease.
The results they achieve in managing their cholesterol levels can sometimes vary greatly. One month, the "bad" LDL-Cholesterol measures at 81 mg/dL (2.1 mmol/L), and three months later the numbers are 132 mg/dL (3.41 mmol/L)! This can be very frustrating to either old-time or newly diagnosed cholesterolemics. Of course, maintaining a constant low level of LDL-C is imperative, given the serious health consequences of elevated cholesterol levels. On the other hand, other people constantly achieve great results in lowering their cholesterol levels. Why and how? They, of course, have mastered the basics pertaining to their condition. In order to do so, they have come to know the very nature of their ailment; they have a good knowledge of just what is cholesterol, of how it is produced in the body, and of the many ways to keep their numbers or values low. Having acquired a good understanding of how hypercholesterolemia works (its physiology), they can now master it. Actually, their blood cholesterol levels are often far better than those in the general population. Their risk ratio has also decreased considerably from the original starting level.
Cholesterol is viewed as a necessary component in the building of dangerous coronary artery plaque that causes heart disease. It is really worth the effort to learn about cholesterol and about how to control LDL-C levels.
Contents of Article
>> 1 - Abstract / Introduction
>> 2 - The Nature of the Substance
>> 3 - What is The Utility of Cholesterol
>> 4 - What is the Source of Cholesterol
>> 5 - What is LDL-Cholesterol
>> 6 - What is HDL-Cholesterol
>> 7 - What is the Cholesterol Ratio
>> 8 - What is Hypercholesterolemia
>> 10 - NUTRITION and Cholesterol
>> 9 - Medication to Lower Cholesterol
... on Page 2
>> 11 - References
>> 12 - Helpful Links
2 - DEFINING THE BIOCHEMICAL NATURE OF THE SUBSTANCE:
If you were to isolate or extract cholesterol in a laboratory, you would be left with a sort of whitish substance. To the touch, it would feel like some kind of paraffin or any white wax. Cholesterol belongs to a class of substances known as lipids, or fats.
Aside from being a lipid, its chemical structure is that of a steroid with an alcohol group on it. A steroid is a mostly carbon "frame" made up of 4 rings bound together. As is the case with most fatty substances, it does NOT dissolve very well in water or water-based solutions such as blood. Below are two representations: a diagram representing a biochemist's view of the cholesterol molecule and an artist's rendition of cholesterol embedded in a spherical particle traveling alongside red and white blood cells in an artery.
If you were to isolate or extract cholesterol in a laboratory, you would be left with a sort of whitish substance. To the touch, it would feel like some kind of paraffin or any white wax. Cholesterol belongs to a class of substances known as lipids, or fats.
Aside from being a lipid, its chemical structure is that of a steroid with an alcohol group on it. A steroid is a mostly carbon "frame" made up of 4 rings bound together. As is the case with most fatty substances, it does NOT dissolve very well in water or water-based solutions such as blood. Below are two representations: a diagram representing a biochemist's view of the cholesterol molecule and an artist's rendition of cholesterol embedded in a spherical particle traveling alongside red and white blood cells in an artery.
3 - WHAT IS THE UTILITY OR FUNCTION OF CHOLESTEROL IN THE BODY? a brief explanation.
You may ask yourself why the body bothers making cholesterol in the first place. Actually, a SMALL amount of cholesterol is necessary. Among other things, cholesterol is necessary in the manufacture of cell membranes. It can be viewed as a building block of the cell structure. Cholesterol is also the raw material that will be used to synthesize hormones such as sexual hormones and cortico-steroids. Cholesterol is also necessary in the digestive process. The liver transforms it into bile acids that it will excrete in the intestinal tract. Those bile acids are indispensable in the digestion of lipids.
So, cholesterol is necessary. But that does not mean one should have more... as if it were good for you! Only SMALL amounts are needed. The problems that we experience due to an excess of cholesterol in our bloodstream are due either to genetic factors or, especially, to our very delinquent western or North American diet. Our primitive ancestors lived on cereals, legumes, fruits and vegetables. Populations who eat mostly this type of diet are known to have very low blood cholesterol numbers or values. Their rate of heart disease is also extremely low, close to the optimal values believed to be between 50 and 70 mg/dl for LDL-C. The foods they eat is directly responsible for those ideally low numbers. We have not yet been genetically programmed to live on burgers, hot-dogs, fries, pizza, doughnuts and gallons of pop. It may be many thousands of years before natural selection turns us into beings adapted fully to an industrial fast-junk-food diet.
You may ask yourself why the body bothers making cholesterol in the first place. Actually, a SMALL amount of cholesterol is necessary. Among other things, cholesterol is necessary in the manufacture of cell membranes. It can be viewed as a building block of the cell structure. Cholesterol is also the raw material that will be used to synthesize hormones such as sexual hormones and cortico-steroids. Cholesterol is also necessary in the digestive process. The liver transforms it into bile acids that it will excrete in the intestinal tract. Those bile acids are indispensable in the digestion of lipids.
So, cholesterol is necessary. But that does not mean one should have more... as if it were good for you! Only SMALL amounts are needed. The problems that we experience due to an excess of cholesterol in our bloodstream are due either to genetic factors or, especially, to our very delinquent western or North American diet. Our primitive ancestors lived on cereals, legumes, fruits and vegetables. Populations who eat mostly this type of diet are known to have very low blood cholesterol numbers or values. Their rate of heart disease is also extremely low, close to the optimal values believed to be between 50 and 70 mg/dl for LDL-C. The foods they eat is directly responsible for those ideally low numbers. We have not yet been genetically programmed to live on burgers, hot-dogs, fries, pizza, doughnuts and gallons of pop. It may be many thousands of years before natural selection turns us into beings adapted fully to an industrial fast-junk-food diet.
4 - WHAT ARE THE SOURCES OF CHOLESTEROL, where is produced in the body?
Many people feel that their cholesterol levels "must be" just fine since they often purchase foods that have "cholesterol free" written in bright colors on the package. In reality, while a bag of potato chips does not contain any cholesterol, since potatoes and vegetable oil are not of animal origin, the effect of a large intake of potato chips on your blood cholesterol level is surprisingly important. Those chips or fries contain exactly what your liver was waiting for to turn on its cholesterol-making machine. Even if it said "Cholesterol-Free!" on the package or box that you have bought.
There are in fact two sources of cholesterol: DIETARY and DE NOVO. Dietary cholesterol is of course the one we ingest directly by eating cholesterol-containing foods such as eggs, cream, butter and meat. De Novo cholesterol is the one our own body will produce. The liver and the lining of the intestinal tract have the ability to produce new (novo) cholesterol. Saturated and trans- fats are especially notorious promoters of cholesterol synthesis by the liver; thus increasing your "bad" LDL-Cholesterol values or numbers.
These are reasons why many leading cardiologists today are advocates of low-fat diets. When it comes to saturated and trans-fats, they will favour an even lower intake, since your liver is likely to turn a fraction of them into LDL-Cholesterol (the bad one). As we will see later, slowing the production of cholesterol in the liver will be one of your Doctor's options to lower your cholesterolemia.
Many people feel that their cholesterol levels "must be" just fine since they often purchase foods that have "cholesterol free" written in bright colors on the package. In reality, while a bag of potato chips does not contain any cholesterol, since potatoes and vegetable oil are not of animal origin, the effect of a large intake of potato chips on your blood cholesterol level is surprisingly important. Those chips or fries contain exactly what your liver was waiting for to turn on its cholesterol-making machine. Even if it said "Cholesterol-Free!" on the package or box that you have bought.
There are in fact two sources of cholesterol: DIETARY and DE NOVO. Dietary cholesterol is of course the one we ingest directly by eating cholesterol-containing foods such as eggs, cream, butter and meat. De Novo cholesterol is the one our own body will produce. The liver and the lining of the intestinal tract have the ability to produce new (novo) cholesterol. Saturated and trans- fats are especially notorious promoters of cholesterol synthesis by the liver; thus increasing your "bad" LDL-Cholesterol values or numbers.
These are reasons why many leading cardiologists today are advocates of low-fat diets. When it comes to saturated and trans-fats, they will favour an even lower intake, since your liver is likely to turn a fraction of them into LDL-Cholesterol (the bad one). As we will see later, slowing the production of cholesterol in the liver will be one of your Doctor's options to lower your cholesterolemia.
5 - WHAT IS LDL or LOW-DENSITY LIPOPROTEIN CHOLESTEROL (the "bad" type of cholesterol)
We have seen earlier that cholesterol, a lipid or fat, does not dissolve well in water-based solutions such as blood. How does it manage to travel in the bloodstream ? It uses a sort of "piggy-back" method. It can be bound chemically to some particles so it can then travel in the bloodstream with that particle. It can be bound, for instance, to a protein-containing particle of small density. (Cholesterol + Triglyceride + Protein). We then have a particle containing a lipid fraction and a protein fraction containing our cholesterol. We are now looking at a Low-Density LipoProtein. Hence the terms: low-density lipoprotein cholesterol or LDL-C. A low-density particle is not the best of alternatives for transporting cholesterol, as far as our arteries are concerned. It seems the nature of the particle allows it to do some harm, such as to infiltrate under the lining of the arteries and causing atherosclerotic plaque to build up. This is why LDL-C is referred to as the bad cholesterol, it causes plaque to build up inside our arteries, thereby constricting or reducing the lumen or passageway. In the heart vessels, this situation develops into Coronary Artery Disease, or simply Heart Disease. In the other arteries, such the ones in our legs, it is referred to as Peripheral Artery Disease. Cholesterol is a necessary building block of Coronary Heart Disease.
5b - VLDL or Very-low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol. (part of the "bad" type of cholesterol)
A higher amount of associated triglycerides can also cause a decrease in the density of the the particle. In this case, it would be referred to as VLDL-Cholesterol. The VLDL fraction is estimated as being around one fifth of your triglyceride value. Direct measurement of VLDL can be made but this is more complicated. VLDL is considered as bad cholesterol. This is why your doctor may want to reduce your triglyceride levels.
We have seen earlier that cholesterol, a lipid or fat, does not dissolve well in water-based solutions such as blood. How does it manage to travel in the bloodstream ? It uses a sort of "piggy-back" method. It can be bound chemically to some particles so it can then travel in the bloodstream with that particle. It can be bound, for instance, to a protein-containing particle of small density. (Cholesterol + Triglyceride + Protein). We then have a particle containing a lipid fraction and a protein fraction containing our cholesterol. We are now looking at a Low-Density LipoProtein. Hence the terms: low-density lipoprotein cholesterol or LDL-C. A low-density particle is not the best of alternatives for transporting cholesterol, as far as our arteries are concerned. It seems the nature of the particle allows it to do some harm, such as to infiltrate under the lining of the arteries and causing atherosclerotic plaque to build up. This is why LDL-C is referred to as the bad cholesterol, it causes plaque to build up inside our arteries, thereby constricting or reducing the lumen or passageway. In the heart vessels, this situation develops into Coronary Artery Disease, or simply Heart Disease. In the other arteries, such the ones in our legs, it is referred to as Peripheral Artery Disease. Cholesterol is a necessary building block of Coronary Heart Disease.
5b - VLDL or Very-low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol. (part of the "bad" type of cholesterol)
A higher amount of associated triglycerides can also cause a decrease in the density of the the particle. In this case, it would be referred to as VLDL-Cholesterol. The VLDL fraction is estimated as being around one fifth of your triglyceride value. Direct measurement of VLDL can be made but this is more complicated. VLDL is considered as bad cholesterol. This is why your doctor may want to reduce your triglyceride levels.
6 - WHAT IS HDL or HIGH-DENSITY LIPOPROTEIN CHOLESTEROL (the "good" type of cholesterol)
The cholesterol fraction could, of course, also be bound to a higher density particle. We would then be looking at High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol or HDL-C, also referred to as the good cholesterol. The bond involving the high-density particle seems to be particularly strong. HDL particles do not seem to "spill their loads" all over the endothelium of our arteries. On the contrary they are deemed capable of plucking cholesterol from the arterial wall and carry it back to the liver where it can be excreted in the bile.
This is referred to as "reverse cholesterol transport". This means that HDL-C is responsible for carrying cholesterol from the blood stream back to the liver for elimination. HDL can be referred to as the highly desirable fraction of the serum Total Cholesterol.
SUMMARY of the main types of Cholesterol:
The cholesterol fraction could, of course, also be bound to a higher density particle. We would then be looking at High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol or HDL-C, also referred to as the good cholesterol. The bond involving the high-density particle seems to be particularly strong. HDL particles do not seem to "spill their loads" all over the endothelium of our arteries. On the contrary they are deemed capable of plucking cholesterol from the arterial wall and carry it back to the liver where it can be excreted in the bile.
This is referred to as "reverse cholesterol transport". This means that HDL-C is responsible for carrying cholesterol from the blood stream back to the liver for elimination. HDL can be referred to as the highly desirable fraction of the serum Total Cholesterol.
SUMMARY of the main types of Cholesterol:
- HDL type (generally higher protein content)
- LDL type (generally higher cholesterol content)
- VLDL type (generally higher triglyceride content)
7 - DEFINING WHAT IS THE CHOLESTEROL RATIO (almost by definition, the ratio is considered or used as a risk indicator)
From the above, one can see that a person could have an acceptable level of total cholesterol and still be at high risk for heart problems if that total is made up mostly of LDL-C while the level of HDL-C is too low. Such a scenario is quite common. When a disorder in lipid profile (dyslipidemia) is suspected, your doctor will want to go beyond the value of total cholesterol in your blood. He/she will want to measure and assess the amount of HDL relative to LDL. He or she will order a test that will measure the amounts of each type or fraction present in your blood.
From these values, the cholesterol ratio will be determined by dividing the total cholesterol by the value of the HDL. So if your total serum cholesterol was 230 mg/dl and your HDL was 45 mg/dl, 230 / 45 = 5.11. This would be a bit high. On the other hand if your total chol. were 220 mg/dl and your HDL 55 mg/dl, your ratio would be 4.0. When it comes to the cholesterol ratio: the lower, the better! Even tough there is almost no difference in the total cholesterol, the person with a ratio of 4.0 is at a much lesser risk of cardiac events than the one with a 5.1 ratio. The American Heart Association considers a 3.5 ratio as being optimum. In secondary care (secondary to having had a cardiac event), many cardiologists are pushing for an even lower number. The cholesterol ratio is also looked at as a sort of risk ratio.
A short definition of the Cholesterol Ratio would be: the ratio of Total Cholesterol relative to High Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol. The ratio is found by dividing Total Chol. by HDL Chol:
In the equation form: Chol.Ratio = Total Chol. / HDL Chol.
From the above, one can see that a person could have an acceptable level of total cholesterol and still be at high risk for heart problems if that total is made up mostly of LDL-C while the level of HDL-C is too low. Such a scenario is quite common. When a disorder in lipid profile (dyslipidemia) is suspected, your doctor will want to go beyond the value of total cholesterol in your blood. He/she will want to measure and assess the amount of HDL relative to LDL. He or she will order a test that will measure the amounts of each type or fraction present in your blood.
From these values, the cholesterol ratio will be determined by dividing the total cholesterol by the value of the HDL. So if your total serum cholesterol was 230 mg/dl and your HDL was 45 mg/dl, 230 / 45 = 5.11. This would be a bit high. On the other hand if your total chol. were 220 mg/dl and your HDL 55 mg/dl, your ratio would be 4.0. When it comes to the cholesterol ratio: the lower, the better! Even tough there is almost no difference in the total cholesterol, the person with a ratio of 4.0 is at a much lesser risk of cardiac events than the one with a 5.1 ratio. The American Heart Association considers a 3.5 ratio as being optimum. In secondary care (secondary to having had a cardiac event), many cardiologists are pushing for an even lower number. The cholesterol ratio is also looked at as a sort of risk ratio.
A short definition of the Cholesterol Ratio would be: the ratio of Total Cholesterol relative to High Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol. The ratio is found by dividing Total Chol. by HDL Chol:
In the equation form: Chol.Ratio = Total Chol. / HDL Chol.
8 - DEFINING WHAT HYPERCHOLESTEROLEMIA IS
Cholesterolemia refers to the amount of cholesterol in your blood. Therefore Hypercholesterolemia would be an excessive amount of cholesterol in one's blood. Hypercholesterolemia often is often related to genetics. People who are hypercholesterolemics often have parents who were also hypercholesterolemics. In such a case, your physician may want to put you on medication to lower your cholesterol numbers, so as to prevent future complications.
At what "total cholesterol" level is one at risk and at what level is one at reduced risk ? (in the U.S. cholesterol is expressed in milligrams per deciliter (mg/dl). In most other countries, in it is now expressed in millimoles per liter (mmol/L).
> 240 mg/dl ( or 6.2 mmol/L) , at a value of 240 and more, a person is considered to be at a HIGH RISK level.
200 to 239 mg/dl (5.2 to 6.2 mmol/L), at that level a person is considered in a BORDERLINE High Risk zone.
< 200 mg/dl (5.2 mmol/L), a level of less than 200 is considered as DESIRABLE.
However, many clinicians now feel that those standards should be lowered still, as epidemiological studies confirm that lower risk is associated with even lower numbers. For LDL-C values the optimal value was set at 100 mg/dl. Newer guidelines suggest that an optimal or safer LDL-C level is between 70 to 50 mg/dl. (below 1.8 mmol/L)
Cholesterolemia refers to the amount of cholesterol in your blood. Therefore Hypercholesterolemia would be an excessive amount of cholesterol in one's blood. Hypercholesterolemia often is often related to genetics. People who are hypercholesterolemics often have parents who were also hypercholesterolemics. In such a case, your physician may want to put you on medication to lower your cholesterol numbers, so as to prevent future complications.
At what "total cholesterol" level is one at risk and at what level is one at reduced risk ? (in the U.S. cholesterol is expressed in milligrams per deciliter (mg/dl). In most other countries, in it is now expressed in millimoles per liter (mmol/L).
> 240 mg/dl ( or 6.2 mmol/L) , at a value of 240 and more, a person is considered to be at a HIGH RISK level.
200 to 239 mg/dl (5.2 to 6.2 mmol/L), at that level a person is considered in a BORDERLINE High Risk zone.
< 200 mg/dl (5.2 mmol/L), a level of less than 200 is considered as DESIRABLE.
However, many clinicians now feel that those standards should be lowered still, as epidemiological studies confirm that lower risk is associated with even lower numbers. For LDL-C values the optimal value was set at 100 mg/dl. Newer guidelines suggest that an optimal or safer LDL-C level is between 70 to 50 mg/dl. (below 1.8 mmol/L)
9 - MEDICATION TO LOWER BLOOD CHOLESTEROL LEVELS,
a short presentation.
In many cases, using medication to control cholesterol levels is necessary. Some people strongly object, as a matter of principle, to taking any medication whatsoever. When it comes to LDL-Cholesterol, the consequences of not using lipid and cholesterol-lowering medication are serious in nature. The benefits of taking the medication may far outweigh the disadvantages. There are a few drugs to control cholesterolemia. We will cover the main ones.
A- The STATIN DRUGS. They are known to the patients mainly as Lipitor, Crestor, Pravachol and Zocor. They work by inhibiting the action of an enzyme that is used in the liver to produce cholesterol. They are particularly efficient, especially in reducing the numbers for bad LDL-Cholesterol. In clinical trials, it has been demonstrated that an aggressive statin therapy was even associated with a slow regression or reversal of the disease. This is very good news indeed. Until recently it had been assumed that coronary heart disease patients would only experience progression of the disease. Statin drugs are reported to be particularly good at halting or even reversing heart disease when combined with lifestyle changes such as a low-fat diet and smoking cessation.
B- NIACIN - (in the Nicotinic Acid form: ONLY ! not nicotinamide) - is also used. It has the distinct advantage of raising the values of the good HDL-Cholesterol fraction in your bloodstream. It is not as efficient as statins in reducing LDL-C values. It helps, however, in tilting the cholesterol ratio in your favor, thus decreasing your risk for cardiac events.
C- Bile Sequestrants - Questran, Welcol etc. - As their name indicates they bind to the cholesterol-containing bile acids in the bowel and increase the rate of cholesterol elimination through the stools.
D- Cholesterol Absorption Inhibitors (Ezetimibe - Zetia, Ezetrol). They work by competing with cholesterol for the receptor sites in the intestinal tract. When the receptor site is occupied by Ezitimibe, the biochemical cholesterol entity cannot use that site to be absorbed. It is then likely to be eliminated with natural bowel movement.
a short presentation.
In many cases, using medication to control cholesterol levels is necessary. Some people strongly object, as a matter of principle, to taking any medication whatsoever. When it comes to LDL-Cholesterol, the consequences of not using lipid and cholesterol-lowering medication are serious in nature. The benefits of taking the medication may far outweigh the disadvantages. There are a few drugs to control cholesterolemia. We will cover the main ones.
A- The STATIN DRUGS. They are known to the patients mainly as Lipitor, Crestor, Pravachol and Zocor. They work by inhibiting the action of an enzyme that is used in the liver to produce cholesterol. They are particularly efficient, especially in reducing the numbers for bad LDL-Cholesterol. In clinical trials, it has been demonstrated that an aggressive statin therapy was even associated with a slow regression or reversal of the disease. This is very good news indeed. Until recently it had been assumed that coronary heart disease patients would only experience progression of the disease. Statin drugs are reported to be particularly good at halting or even reversing heart disease when combined with lifestyle changes such as a low-fat diet and smoking cessation.
B- NIACIN - (in the Nicotinic Acid form: ONLY ! not nicotinamide) - is also used. It has the distinct advantage of raising the values of the good HDL-Cholesterol fraction in your bloodstream. It is not as efficient as statins in reducing LDL-C values. It helps, however, in tilting the cholesterol ratio in your favor, thus decreasing your risk for cardiac events.
C- Bile Sequestrants - Questran, Welcol etc. - As their name indicates they bind to the cholesterol-containing bile acids in the bowel and increase the rate of cholesterol elimination through the stools.
D- Cholesterol Absorption Inhibitors (Ezetimibe - Zetia, Ezetrol). They work by competing with cholesterol for the receptor sites in the intestinal tract. When the receptor site is occupied by Ezitimibe, the biochemical cholesterol entity cannot use that site to be absorbed. It is then likely to be eliminated with natural bowel movement.
What is Cholesterol? An Overview, Explaining the Basics.
From the image, above left, you can easily picture that as the composition or make-up of the lipoprotein sphere changes, so will its density. A higher protein (heavy) content will cause the density (weight/volume) to rise while a higher proportion of the lighter elements will lower its density. This also explains why the main types are later divided into sub-types.
Illustration 1: Risk decreases as LDL-C concentration decreases
Illustration 2: Disease regresses as the proportion of HDL-C increases relatively to LDL-C concentration.
Illustration 2: Disease regresses as the proportion of HDL-C increases relatively to LDL-C concentration.
Graph source: The Bayer College of Medicine / lipidsonline. Their excellent and well researched collection of scientific and medical graphs and slides can be accessed at http://www.lipidsonline.org
CardioCheck PA / Advanced Model
Dual Cholesterol ( Total Cholesterol and LDL-C) and Glucose Testing Device
Dual Cholesterol ( Total Cholesterol and LDL-C) and Glucose Testing Device
Complete Cholesterol (including HDL, LDL) and Glucose Meter / Monitor: The Cardiocheck Blood Testing Device. Measures the total, the good (indirect) and the bad cholesterol levels - for home use / for patients' personal use
If the cholesterol ratio increases, risk for coronary events (heart attacks and other acute coronary syndrome events) increases. Conversely, if the ratio decreases, so does the statistical risk for adverse cardiovascular events. Another type of ratio has been developed and is being used more and more: it relates alpha and beta lipoprotein ( Apo-A and Apo-B) concentrations. This ratio should not be mistaken for the classic cholesterol ratio described above.
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What is Cholesterol? An Overview, an Explanation of the Basics.
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A Definition of the Cholesterol ratio
List of Cholesterol Drugs / Explaining How Cholesterol Medication works
