Why Do You Need To Lower Your LDL Cholesterol?
Written By Ana Aleksic, MSc Pharm

Why Do You Need To Lower Your LDL Cholesterol?

Overview

Low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, more appropriately referred to as LDL-C or LDL cholesterol is the bad form of fat in our blood. Within the normal range, LDL-C does not harm the body. It is only when the levels cross their upper limit that LDL-C can pose a significant risk to your health. Many people wonder, what does high cholesterol cause? The truth is, it can affect several systems of your body from head to toe.

Effects of High LDL Cholesterol On Heart

Overly high LDL cholesterol levels are a major cardiovascular risk. An excess of LDL-C can deposit within the walls of your coronary arteries (arteries supplying the heart) as fatty streaks, clogging them. The affected arteries harden over time. This hardening of arteries due to the fatty plaques is termed as atherosclerosis.

As these fatty deposits or plaques expand, they interrupt the blood flow to the heart muscle. The reduced supply of oxygen-rich blood to the heart triggers chest pain or angina. This occurs because the heart has to pump the blood harder through the narrowed arteries.

Consequently, a section of plaque can detach and form a blood clot. With the passage of time, the clot can grow large enough to occlude the blood flow through a coronary artery. If the clot is not addressed at the appropriate time, an area of the heart muscle can eventually die, resulting in a heart attack. [1] The occlusion of blood supply can also trigger sudden cardiac death.

Besides, the hardened arteries become stiff so that the blood flowing through them exerts more pressure on their walls (aka raising the blood pressure), which defines hypertension.

LDL-C is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease. [2] In fact, measuring the amount of cholesterol carried by an LDL particle (LDL-C) is the best predictor of an impending coronary artery disease.

Effects of High LDL Cholesterol On the Brain

The same clot can block an artery supplying your brain, leading to stroke. A person with a stroke can become paralyzed or be unable to talk or walk depending on the area of the brain damaged.

The need to lower your LDL cholesterol becomes more obvious as the risk of memory loss and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) rises with the rising LDL-C levels. A putative link exists between high LDL levels and AD. High cholesterol or LDL levels in midlife can lead to cognitive decline in later life. This is probably because LDL-C favors the deposition of amyloid β-protein, the sticky substance that damages the brain in AD. Moreover, people who take statins (medicines to lower LDL levels) may already be protected against AD. This is in view of the statin’s potential to cross the blood-brain barrier and prevent AD. [3]

Keeping the LDL levels within the acceptable ranges can minimize the risk of cognitive impairment in later life.

Effects of High LDL Cholesterol on The Peripheries

Peripheries of the body are the parts away from the center such as the arms, legs, hands, and feet. The fatty plaque can obstruct the arteries of the legs and arms, culminating in peripheral arterial disease (PAD). [4] This causes intermittent claudication or pain in the calf muscles when you walk or exercise, thereby limiting your physical activity.

Addressing your high LDL levels in PAD can slow the progression of the atherosclerotic plaque, impact your general cardiovascular health, reduce your chances of getting limb amputation, and, eventually, optimize your exercise tolerance. [4]

Effects of High LDL Cholesterol on The Endocrine System

High LDL cholesterol levels are also linked to type 2 diabetes. Whether high LDL levels cause diabetes or diabetes causes high LDL levels is unclear. That being said, many people with diabetes have deranged lipid profiles, including low HDL (good cholesterol) and high LDL cholesterol (small dense particles of LDL).

Effect of High LDL Cholesterol on The Digestive System

In the gut, cholesterol plays a role in the production of bile. The enzymes in bile help break down the macronutrients in food so that they can be absorbed into your system easily. The body then gets rid of the excess cholesterol via bile. However, when the concentration of cholesterol in bile exceeds the bile’s removal capacity, the excess LDL cholesterol will precipitate into crystals and stones in your gallbladder.  Too much of LDL cholesterol in the blood is a marker for gallstone disease that comes with its own risks. [5]

Reducing Cholesterol with Probiotics and Prebiotics

A vast majority of the population know that prebiotics, the live microorganisms or bacteria naturally occurring in the gut, are immensely beneficial for overall health as well as digestive and immune health. You might be wondering, can probiotics help lower cholesterol?

It’s not a well-known fact that gut microbiomes can positively influence heart health and cholesterol metabolism. In addition it can also aid weight management, which is essential for people with diabetes and heart issues. Probiotics can also prove to be effective at keeping high cholesterol levels at bay. But first let’s understand the difference between probiotics and probiotics. 

Prebiotics vs. Probiotics

Probiotics is a specialized type of plant fiber that nourishes the good microorganisms in the gut, thereby nurturing the growth of friendly microbiomes. On the other hand, probiotics are live microorganisms or living strains of bacteria that increase the amount of good bacteria in the digestive tract. It has been suggested that both probiotics and prebiotics can be invaluable in your fight against cholesterol as they can effectively improve the lipid profile. 

Wrapping up

Thus, you can see that high LDL cholesterol levels can sabotage your health. A stitch in time saves nine so it is vital to fixing the raised LDL at the right time. In combination with the lifestyle modifications and the recommended medications, try supplementing probiotics to bring the LDL levels down. In particular, L. Reuteri NCIMB 30242 is proven to cut the bad cholesterol levels by around 12%. [6]

With the help of the science of microbiome, Microbiome Plus+ develops an innovative line of products that offer more complete dietary support to individuals looking to enhance their overall health. Shop our prebiotic and probiotic supplements today!

 

References

  1. Linton MF, Yancey PG, Davies SS, et al. The Role of Lipids and Lipoproteins in Atherosclerosis. [Updated 2015 Dec 24]. In: De Groot LJ, Chrousos G, Dungan K, et al., editors. Endotext [Internet]. South Dartmouth (MA): MDText.com, Inc.; 2000-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK343489/
  2. Nelson RH. Hyperlipidemia as a Risk Factor for Cardiovascular Disease. Primary care. 2013;40(1):195-211. doi:10.1016/j.pop.2012.11.003.
  3. Shepardson NE, Shankar GM, Selkoe DJ. Cholesterol and Statins in Alzheimer’s Disease: I. Review of Epidemiological and Preclinical Studies. Archives of neurology. 2011;68(10):1239-1244. doi:10.1001/archneurol.2011.203.
  4. Pollak AW, Kramer CM. LDL lowering in peripheral arterial disease: are there benefits beyond reducing cardiovascular morbidity and mortality? Clinical lipidology. 2012;7(2):141-149. doi:10.2217/clp.12.6.
  5. Atamanalp SS, Keles MS, Atamanalp RS, Acemoglu H, Laloglu E. The effects of serum cholesterol, LDL, and HDL levels on gallstone cholesterol concentration. Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences. 2013;29(1):187-190. doi:10.12669/pjms.291.2798.
  6. Jones ML, Martoni CJ, Parent M, Prakash S. Cholesterol-lowering efficacy of a microencapsulated bile salt hydrolase-active Lactobacillus reuteri NCIMB 30242 yoghurt formulation in hypercholesterolaemic adults. British Journal of Nutrition. 2012;107(10):1505-13. doi: 10.1017/S0007114511004703.
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