Low HDL and LDL

My doc always said my cholesterol was low during physicals.  This time I tested it at home after a 14-hour fast with CardioChek, and here's what I got:

Total: 125
HDL: 33
Triglycerides: 64

LDL = Total - HDL - (Trig / 5) = 79

Do I need to boost my HDL?  Or is it OK given the low LDL and Triglycerides?  How do you boost HDL?

Dominic

[MysteryChemist]

I've used Cardiochek and found it wasn't that accurate.  Hopefully, it works better for you.

The traditional ways to increase HDL are by exercise, weight loss, stop smoking, and avoiding trans fats.  Some people say cranberry juice ( 1 glass a day) can raise HDL.

Niaspan (niacin)  is a prescription drug that can raise HDL. I take 2000 mg a day and it raise my HDL from 32 to 44.  Some people have problems with flushing ( sensation of heat) when they take Niapsan. Taking an asprin 30 minutes before Niaspan helps stop the flushing.

However, I think it would be important to have the HDL confirmed by the Dr again.

[traderrob]

My Cardiochek has me very low also.

Tot-C <100
TRG 82
HDL 33
LDL 35

My Dr. has me on statins so I requested a lipid profile because these levels are far too low.

Here's the hospital lab results:

Tot -C 90
TRG 92
HDL 34
LDL 38

So the home monitor was pretty close. The lab tech at the hospital said he had never seen such low results.

[MysteryChemist]

I used cardiochek for 2 months to check my HDL.  According to cardiochek, my HDL varied from 26 to 47 over 14 measurements.  The lab results show  my HDL was 31 on 2 separate measurement 2.5 months apart. I did not get a warm and fuzzy feeling with it.

[Javelin]

I have found that I get good correlation between my Cardiochek and the hospital lab.It would be most unusual if they were exactly the same. If you sent your blood sample to two different hospital labs you would get slightly   different results. In my case I am using it as a guide to give an early indication that Cholesterol and Hdl are going in the correct direction  which they are.As yet I have not tried Ldl test strips. Cholesterol can vary if you have not fasted for 12 hours before testing.

[Dominic70]

What about eating more olive oil and mono fat -- will that boost HDL?

I'm just curious if an HDL of 33 is OK when LDL is 79, Total is 124, and TriG is 64.  What do the current guidelines say?  Is the ratio more important than the abolute numbers?

I'm not on any cholesterol lowering meds.  I eat meat and chicken twice a week.  The rest of the time I'm on a low fat diet.  There is heart disease in my family, and that's the reason I went low-fat.  I'm beginning to think it was not such a good idea if it lowered my HDL as well.

[traderrob]

I am frankly VERY dubious of the entire diet/heart hypothesis as is my neighbor who is also a doctor.

My cholesterol was always in the ideal range as are up to 60% of people who have  CAD. There is no convincing evidence that cholesterol causes CAD  yet the vast majority of heart doctors buy into it hook line and sinker.

My personal opinion is it's a combination of "bad" stresses and inflammation. There is actually more reliable evidence that a cholesterol level that is too low is far more detrimental than moderately high levels.

[Javelin]

Have a look at www.heartattackproof.com  where links between cholesterol and CHD are discussed.

[traderrob]

For every site that has proof of the cholesterol/CAD link I can give you three that prove it's bunk. I suggest both Kendrick and Colpos book as well as anything written by Ravnskov.

[Javelin]

Thanks for your suggestions will research the individuals that you have identified.

[traderrob]

YW. I am not saying I neccessarily agree with them either but it's definately food for thought.

[Javelin]

I have started to read about Dr Kendrick and certainly agree with his views on statins which is the reason that I am adjusting my diet, weight loss, BMI reduction to take my cholesterol down to below 150 which is  the current medical recommendation (disputed by many doctors) for someone like me who had a heart attack (1992) and diagnosed as type2 diabetic. I was totally off statins for a while to find that my Ldl had increased and at this stage was prescribed  5mg of Crestor and told to increase that by 5mg every week till I reached 20 mg. With my Cardiochek I found that  my cholesterol was at 158 with the 5mg dose and decided to stay at that level. My next step is to totally come off statins and some of my other drugs as well.
I almost feel like signing up for medical school so that I can fully interpret the raw data myself free from any obscure commercial interest.

[traderrob]

"I almost feel like signing up for medical school so that I can fully interpret the raw data"

I know the feeling.

BTW you can pick up Kendricks book "The Great Cholesterol Con" on Overstock for about 10 bucks. Very informative  and because he has a good sense of humor it's a it's a great read.

I would recommend that along with proper weight eat plenty of anti-oxidant and anti inflammatory foods, B vitamins, Krill oil or at least fish oil and stay away from polyunsaturated and trans fats totally.

[Javelin]

Look at Health Disaster of the 20th Century on UTube.  

[thewildwind]

As the researches of specialists ,  L ow HDL  level  can cause cardiovascular  disease. So  increasing HDL level is very importmant. You should change your diet and take some drugs that increas Hdl .My suggestion is you can try some herbal medicine.You can contact me.
My mail is xiaoye_0109***@****