oxidized cholesterol Archives - Amazing Health Advances

Oxidized Cholesterol and Alzheimer’s Disease

AHA Publisher — Fri, 13 May 2022 07:00:51 +0000

Michael Greger M.D. FACLM via NutritionFacts – Oxidized cholesterol can be a hundred times more toxic than regular cholesterol, raising additional concerns about foods such as ghee, canned tuna, processed meat, and parmesan cheese. Too much cholesterol in the blood “has long been considered to act as a primary risk factor for developing Alzheimer’s disease and, possibly, Parkinson’s disease.” Striking images on autopsy show that the brain arteries of Alzheimer’s victims are clogged with fat and cholesterol, compared to non-demented elderly controls, as you can see at 0:16 in my video Oxidized Cholesterol as a Cause of Alzheimer’s Disease. But “cholesterol cannot be directly exported across the blood-brain barrier,” so it can’t get directly into—or out of—the brain. What if the brain has too much cholesterol and needs to get rid of some? As a safety valve, an enzyme in the brain can oxidize cholesterol. So, in that form, it can exit the brain and eventually the body. There’s a catch, though. “Although this fact means that the brain can eliminate excess amounts of these oxidation products,” it could be a two-way street. “[I]t could conversely allow toxic amounts of oxysterols [oxidized cholesterol], present in the blood stream, to accumulate in the brain”—that is, to go the other way. This is not just a theoretical concern. An elegant study showed that by measuring oxidized cholesterol levels in the blood coming off the brain, collected from the jugular vein in the neck, compared to the levels going into the brain through the artery, you could determine the difference. The researchers found that if you have too much oxidized cholesterol in your bloodstream, it can end up in your brain. This is a problem, because research shows the accumulation of oxysterols can be “cytotoxic, mutagenic, atherogenic and possibly carcinogenic”—in other words, toxic to cells, toxic to DNA, and contributing to heart disease and maybe also cancer. Yes, samples from atherosclerotic plaques on autopsy contain 20 times more cholesterol than normal arteries, but they contain 45 times higher levels of oxidized cholesterol. Cholesterol oxidation products may be up to a hundred times more pathological, more toxic, than unoxidized cholesterol, contributing not only to heart disease, but potentially also to a variety of different major chronic diseases, including Alzheimer’s, as you can see at 2:03 in my video. How can we cut down on the amount of these oxysterols in our body? One way is by not eating them. Oxidized cholesterol is found in “milk powders, meat and meat products (including fish), cheese, eggs and egg products.” “Until recently, our understanding…has been limited by the lack of analytical procedures [testing methods] to analyse foods with sufficient sensitivity and accuracy”—until now, that is. As you can see at 2:39 in my video, oxidized cholesterol can be found throughout animal products. Canned tuna was surprisingly high, but ghee takes the cake. Ghee, clarified or boiled butter, is commonly used in Indian cooking. Its method of preparation appears to multiply oxidized cholesterol levels tenfold. This dietary exposure to oxidized cholesterol may help explain why the subcontinent of India is ravaged by such heart disease, even though a significant proportion of the population stays away from meat and eggs. (A number of Indian dairy-based desserts are also made in a similar way to ghee.) Oxidized cholesterol in the diet is a source of oxidized cholesterol in the human bloodstream, where it can readily cross the blood-brain barrier into the brain. This could then trigger inflammation inside the brain and the buildup of amyloid “years before the impairment of memory is diagnosed.” Early studies showing the buildup of oxidized cholesterol in the blood of those fed meals rich in oxidized cholesterol, causing a spike in the bloodstream a few hours after eating, as you can see at 3:45 in my video, were done with things like powdered egg, which can be found in a lot of processed foods, but you typically don’t sit down to a meal of it. You get the same types of spikes, though, from eating “ordinary foodstuff.” Give folks some salami and parmesan cheese, which are naturally rich in cholesterol oxidation products (COPs), and later that day, COP is circulating throughout their bodies, as you can see at 4:04in my video. Higher levels are not only associated with mild cognitive impairment, but they’re linked to Alzheimer’s disease as well. “Increased oxysterol concentrations in the brain may promote cellular damage, cause neuron [nerve cell] dysfunction and degeneration, and could contribute to neuroinflammation [brain inflammation] and amyloidogenesis,” the formation of amyloid plaques. You can show the boost in inflammatory gene expression right in a petri dish, as you can see at 4:30 in my video. You can grow human nerve cells in vitro and drip on a little cholesterol, which causes a bump in inflammation. According to a blog on neuropathycure.org, if you add the same amount of oxidized cholesterol, it gets much worse. What’s more, if you look at the changes in brain oxysterols at different stages of Alzheimer’s disease on autopsy, you can see how the three main cholesterol oxidation products appear to be building up, as I show at 4:48 in my video. Levels have been shown to dramatically increase in Alzheimer’s disease brains, adding to the evidence that oxidized cholesterol may be “the driving force behind the development of Alzheimer’s disease.” Cholesterol gets oxidized when animal products are exposed to heat. Are there some cooking methods that are less risky than others? Find out in my video How to Reduce Cholesterol Oxidation. KEY TAKEAWAYS A primary risk factor for the development of Alzheimer’s and possibly Parkinson’s diseases is too much cholesterol in the blood. Although cholesterol can’t be exported directly across the blood-brain barrier, it can be oxidized by an enzyme in the brain and, in that form, exit the brain. However, oxidized cholesterol present in the bloodstream may be able to enter the brain through this two-way street. Accumulation of these oxysterols can be toxic to cells and DNA, as well as contribute to heart disease and possibly cancer. Samples from atherosclerotic plaques on autopsy contain 20 times more cholesterol than normal arteries and 45 times higher levels of oxidized cholesterol, which can be 100 times more toxic than regular unoxidized cholesterol. Oxysterols are found throughout animal products, including dairy, meat (including fish), and eggs, and one way to cut down on the amount of them in our body is by not consuming them. The preparation of ghee, clarified or boiled butter that is commonly used in Indian cooking, appears to multiply oxysterol levels tenfold, which may help explain why heart disease is so rampant on the Indian subcontinent despite a significant percentage of Indians avoiding meat and eggs. The presence of oxidized cholesterol in the brain can trigger inflammation inside the brain and the buildup of amyloid, far before memory impairment is diagnosed. To read the original article click here.

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Cholesterol Savvy? Take Our Cholesterol Quiz: Facts and Myths

AHA Publisher — Fri, 15 Oct 2021 07:00:19 +0000

Dr. Don Colbert – Are you cholesterol savvy? For decades, cholesterol risks, numbers, and information have been confusing, misguided, or even downright wrong. We all have cholesterol. A cholesterol measurement is one of the most common laboratory tests ordered, but does it give you the real picture of your heart health and risk? Take our cholesterol quiz to separate facts and myths and find out if you are cholesterol savvy. Cholesterol Quiz Questions Want to test your knowledge before reading the answers? Jot down your thoughts and decide which statements are facts and which are myths. The majority of cholesterol in the blood stream originates from the diet. It is required for the body to synthesize Vitamin D. Cholesterol dissolves into the blood making it thick. Its numbers are primarily altered by diet and exercise. Heart attack sufferers almost always have high cholesterol. High triglycerides are more concerning than high cholesterol. Avocado oil is higher in cholesterol than olive oil. Inflammation is a primary factor in heart condition risk. All LDL cholesterol is harmful. Statins are completely safe and effective. Cholesterol Quiz: Facts and Myths CHOLESTEROL STATEMENT #1: THE MAJORITY OF CHOLESTEROL IN THE BLOOD STREAM ORIGINATES FROM THE DIET. Myth. Only about 20% of the cholesterol in your body comes from your diet. The rest is synthesized your liver and intestines (1). CHOLESTEROL STATEMENT #2: CHOLESTEROL IS REQUIRED FOR THE BODY TO SYNTHESIZE VITAMIN D. Fact. Cholesterol is a waxy, whitish-yellow fat. It is needed to make vitamin D, hormones (including testosterone and estrogen), and fat-dissolving bile acids. It is a vital building block in cell membranes. And Cholesterol can be found in every cell in the body. CHOLESTEROL STATEMENT #3: CHOLESTEROL DISSOLVES INTO THE BLOOD MAKING IT THICK. Myth. Cholesterol doesn’t dissolve in the blood, kind of like how fat won’t dissolve in water. Instead, cholesterol bonds to carriers called lipoproteins. Lipoproteins are made up of cholesterol on the inside with a layer of protein on the outside. These carriers transport cholesterol between cells to be used for various biological functions. When cholesterol is oxidized, it can embed into the artery wall which can lead to plaques and blockages. CHOLESTEROL STATEMENT #4: CHOLESTEROL NUMBERS ARE PRIMARILY ALTERED BY WEIGHT LOSS, DIET AND EXERCISE. Fact. While your absolute cholesterol number is highly influenced by your familial history, age, sex, and ethnicity (2), changes in total cholesterol are primarily achieved by weight loss (if overweight), diet, and exercise (3, 4). STATEMENT #5: ALL LDL CHOLESTEROL CREATES PLAQUES IN ARTERIES. Myth. As most people know, there are two primary types of cholesterol, Low-density lipoproteins (LDL) and High-density lipoproteins (HDL) cholesterol. LDL cholesterol is taught as “bad,” and HDL as “good.” But there’s more to it than that. There are actually two sub-groups of LDL particles. LDL subtype A is a large fluffy cholesterol particle that is less prone to oxidation and less likely to stick to arterial walls. LDL subtype B is a smaller and denser particle that is easily oxidized and more likely to build up in the arteries. Subtype A LDL cholesterol is not necessarily a threat, and only oxidized LDL cholesterol forms plaques (5). CHOLESTEROL STATEMENT #6: HEART ATTACK SUFFERERS ALMOST ALWAYS HAVE HIGH CHOLESTEROL. Myth. Whilst high LDL cholesterol (specifically, high LDL subset B) is one of many risk factors of heart conditions and heart attacks, many people who have heart attacks have “normal” cholesterol levels (6). When assessing risk, we should look at our heart illness risk overall, including weight, blood glucose, lifestyle, inflammation markers, blood pressure, triglycerides, and specifically LDL Subst B cholesterol numbers. It is not the primary risk factor. CHOLESTEROL STATEMENT #7: HIGH TRIGLYCERIDES LEVELS ARE COMPLETELY INDEPENDENT OF CHOLESTEROL LEVELS. Myth. Interestingly, more and more practitioners are looking at the ratio of triglycerides (TG) to HDL. In fact, when you calculate this ratio, you can infer your health risk of cardiovascular issues, blood sugar issues, inflammation and more. Divide your triglycerides by your HDL cholesterol levels. Studies have found that a number of 1.0 or less is likely indicative of lower risk, and a number of 3.0 or more of highest risk. Interestingly, a lower ratio is also linked to healthier LDL subset particle size (less subset B) (7, 8). STATEMENT #8: AVOCADO OIL IS HIGHER IN CHOLESTEROL THAN OLIVE OIL. Myth. Both avocado oil and olive oil have zero milligrams of cholesterol. Foods derived from plants do not contain cholesterol. STATEMENT #9: INFLAMMATION IS A PRIMARY FACTOR IN HEART CONDITION RISK. Fact. Cholesterol is an active compound in the body. It reacts to oxidative stress and inflammation. Here’s how: As free radicals move throughout the body and damage cells, cumulative oxidative stress rises. Next, the body mounts an inflammatory response and cholesterol comes in to patch things up. When cholesterol can also become damaged and oxidized by free radicals. Oxidized cholesterol is sticky. It can embed into artery walls and potentially form plaques and blockages (9). CHOLESTEROL STATEMENT #10: STATINS ARE COMPLETELY SAFE AND EFFECTIVE. Myth. While statins may be right for some patients, no medication is completely safe, and no medication is completely effective. Even though it is true that statins typically lower overall cholesterol, there are some harmful side effects of which you should be aware. First, statins may lower total cholesterol too much. This can lead to inadequate cholesterol levels for proper brain function (25% of cholesterol is in the brain). It can also interfere with and inhibit the benefits of omega-3 fats. Statins metabolize omega-6 fatty acids which work against omega-3s and can promote resistance to insulin, and elevated blood glucose levels. Like most medications, statins include a risk of damage to organs and systems in the body (10). Lastly, chronic use of statins has also been shown to interfere with the body’s production of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10). CoQ10 is critical for immune and nervous system health, and also bolsters heart health, proper muscle function, and healthy blood pressure, among much else. If you are on statins it is very important to supplement with CoQ10. HOW’D YOU SCORE? Are you savvy about cholesterol? Well, if you weren’t before, you are now. And, there’s great news! Most heart condition risk can be strongly influenced by lifestyle. Weight changes, anti-inflammatory foods, diets high in antioxidants, exercise, cessations from smoking, and more can help you reduce triglycerides, LDL subset B cholesterol, blood pressure, and more. What’s more, these can all improve your HDL cholesterol, too! GET CHOLESTEROL SAVVY: WHERE TO START? Unsure where to start? After taking our cholesterol quiz, do you want to improve your knowledge and health? The Keto Zone® can help you achieve your weight and health goals! Get started today with our complete Keto Zone Starter Kit. You’ll get everything you need to get in the Keto Zone! BOTTOM LINE Cholesterol can be confusing. However, the more you know, the more you can make needed changes for heart health. Thanks for taking our cholesterol quiz. From here, focus on whole body health, specific LDL cholesterol, blood pressure, triglycerides, and HDL levels. Eat healthy in the Keto Zone, exercise, and protect your heart! To read the original article click here.

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