My Serum Lipo-Protein(A) level is high and LDL is high too. What to do ?

[bkj_103]

I have higher levels of Lipo-Protein.
Serum LP(a) Levels: 34.3 mg/dl.
APO B/A1 Ratio : 1:19 ----> HSCRP : Negative.

My lipids:
Total cholesterol: 329 mg/dl
Triglycerides: 193 mg/dl
HDL : 42.8 mg/dl
LDL : 247.6 mg/dl
VLDL Cholesterol : 38.6 mg/dl
Chol : HDL ratio - 7.6:1

What could be the root cause of this? I do not have a family history of high cholesterol disorder.

My doctor has advised statins for life long.

I'm thinking if there is any other way to not depend on statin and find a solution.
Niacin??

[Al Dente]

Niacin does nothing.  Find another doctor that specializes in lipids.

[Al Dente]

my Lp(a) is high, along with a genetic cholesterol issue--Type II Familial Hypercholesteremia.  I would work with a doctor that understands genetic cholesterol issue.  Even if found your issues are not genetic, they can help.

Niacin has been shown to be not helpful.  As well as a host of other meds.  Right now, they only thing that has a track record of blowing down numbers are Statins (rosuvustatin in particular), diet, and or apheresis.

[Red_Star]

I found this interesting podcast from Chris Kresser - RHR: How Your Lipoprotein(a) Level Affects Your Risk of Heart Disease. So from that info find a good quality fish oil. I believe Krill Oil is even better but it's more expensive. There is also niacin (look for non flush niacin) and L-carnitine. And of course look at your diet.  You can check out what to eat and avoid on this article from Authority Nutrition: A Paleo Diet Meal Plan and Menu That Can Save Your Life.

After a bad diet, hypothyroidism is the second most common cause of elevated cholesterol. Genetics is under 1% of cases. It's worth trying out some natural methods first. Statins have a list of side effects a mile long.

***

"...There is some anecdotal clinical evidence that Lp(a) responds to some natural treatment. I’ve seen when people add—if they’re not getting enough long-chain omega-3 fats like DHA and EPA, if they add those to their diet, I’ve seen Lp(a) levels go down. I’ve seen Lp(a) levels respond to a switch from a standard American or not very healthy diet, to a Paleo type of diet.

If you think about it, Lp(a) is there to repair damage, and we’re following a lifestyle that’s causing endothelial damage. It makes sense that changing diet could potentially influence it. Then we have studies that have looked at some natural treatments and found that they’ve been effective to greater or lesser degrees.

For example, a study in 1998 found that taking 2,000 mg of hexaniacinate, which is a time-release form of niacin, which is vitamin B3, for 96 weeks—so that’s a long time. You know, this was not an overnight effect.

Steve Wright: Almost two years.

Chris Kresser: It lowered Lp(a) by 39%. That’s a pretty significant decrease. That could definitely drop you from being in the high-risk category into being in the normal or slightly elevated category. That’s a big dose of niacin. As many people know, that high of a dose of niacin can cause flushing. So it’s probably a good idea to do that under some kind of medical supervision.

Steve Wright: Yeah. And if you haven’t flushed before, you’ll want somebody there.

Chris Kresser: You’ll not like it. Yeah, you will want somebody there. Another study found that 2 grams per day of L-carnitine amino acid lowered Lp(a) levels by about 20% after six months."

[erijon]

That's pretty high, hard to believe there's not a genetic factor involved but it is possible. You can try all kinds of natural options that may or may not lower your LDL, but why risk it? At your level you need a line of treatment that has been proven to lower LDL effectively and for the long term.

If your doctor recommended a statin that may be the best option. They are proven to lower your LDL and having your LDL below 130 is associated with up to a 50% reduction in your chance of developing heart disease. It would seem to be worth trying.

[achillea]

You say you do not have any familial disorders of this type.  Just to be sure, have you checked both lines, that of your mother AND father?

If there is no apparent link, then you should look at things like your weight and your diet and exercise habits, and as Red Star correctly notes, metabolic factors like thyroid function.

So far, statin treatment hasn't existed long enough to *prove* that it alone has the value of increasing longevity vs just improving the appearance of blood tests.

I have values similar to yours, except very high values of supposedly protective HDLs, but this hasn't been studied long enough to prove anything, either.

If I could tolerate statins (which, even after multiple trials, I cannot, due to muscle pain), I'd give them a try.  They DO change blood values and inflammatory indicators in what is considered a more favorable direction.

In terms of betting, it's not a bad guess.  And you can always quit if bad symptoms show up.  My experience is that adverse effects are *generally* temporary.