Why High Levels of HDL are Important?

There’s little doubt that statin medications have revolutionized the treatment of high cholesterol. Not only do statins lower LDL cholesterol levels, they also decrease the risk of heart attack and stroke. Many experts believe because of their anti-inflammatory effect they may be beneficial for treating other conditions as well. Because statins are such superstars in the world of cholesterol control, some doctors write a prescription for one and assume they’re covering all the bases when it comes to heart disease prevention. Unfortunately, this ignores another important risk factor for heart disease – low levels of HDL cholesterol.

A Study

According to the results of a meta-analysis presented at the American Heart Association 20009 Scientific Sessions, if a patient has a low level of HDL they may still be at higher risk for heart disease despite being treated with a statin. In other words the importance of high levels of HDL is overlooked by some in the medical community. The assumption is that once LDL cholesterol levels are brought down, the risk of heart disease also drops without taking into account levels of HDL that may be too low. HDL is the “good cholesterol that carries cholesterol from the tissues back to the liver where it can be excreted.

Researchers in this study found that every 10 mg/dl elevation in HDL cholesterol resulted in 7.6 few heart attacks per patient years in those who treated with statin medications. The study also showed that the lower HDL levels are, the greater the risk of a heart attack – despite statin therapy.

Shoot for Over Forty

Obviously high levels of HDL are important whether or not a person is taking a statin. What this means is that if you’re on a statin medication and you have an HDL below forty, you may still be at a higher risk of having a heart attack than you should be. This is why it’s important to know your HDL value and make efforts to get it higher if it’s below forty.

How Do You Get High Levels of HDL?

There are medications such as Niaspan which will raise levels of HDL and are usually well tolerated. The other option is to do it naturally, although some people are limited in how high of a level they can achieve because of genetics. Some natural ways to get high levels of HDL is to do a regular aerobic exercise program and drink one to two glasses of wine each day. Red wine is preferable to white wine or other forms of alcohol due to its higher content of polyphenols. This isn’t necessarily the best option for women since even one alcoholic drink per day increases the risk of breast cancer.

What about diet? There is some evidence that eating foods high in monounsatuated fats such as nuts and olive oil in place of saturated fats will raise levels of HDL. Eating a diet that’s high in soluble fiber may also have some effect.

The Bottom Line?

Whether or not you’re taking a statin, the importance of HDL shouldn’t be overlooked. Find out what your number is and talk to your doctor about the various options for raising it.