Cholesterol, what are the optimal values?

Keeping cholesterol within optimal values protects heart and artery health. Here are what experts recommend. 

In fact, this substance is indispensable for the body, which within certain limits needs it, for example, to build cell membranes and to synthesize important molecules such as certain hormones and vitamin D. What's more, not all cholesterol in circoomegor.com/blogs/ask-the-pharmacist/low-cholesterol-ldl-cholesterol-hdl?_pos=1&_sid=346569a2c&__ss=rlo in the blood is harmful in the same way; in fact, there is even a type that should not fall below a minimum lower limit.

Let's find out what types of cholesterol to consider and what their optimal values are.

Cholesterol: total, LDL and HDL

The three cholesterol values to consider are total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol (also known as "bad" cholesterol) and the HDL cholesterol (also known as "good" cholesterol). As its name suggests, total cholesterol values indicate how much cholesterol is present in the blood regardless of type.

When the aim is primary prevention in adulthood (i.e., in the case of healthy people who want to avoid the occurrence of disease) values below 200 mg/dL are considered "desirable." Levels of total cholesterol between 200 and 239 mg/dL, on the other hand, are considered "moderately high," and at 240 mg/dL and above are called "high cholesterol." 

Also as part of primary prevention in adulthood, LDL cholesterol is considered:

• Optimal if less than 100 mg/dL;
• Nearly optimal if between 100 and 129 mg/dL;
• Moderately high if between 130 and 159 mg/dL;
• High if between 160 and 189 mg/dL;
• Very high at 190 mg/dL and above.
  

As for HDL cholesterol, however, a distinction must be made between men and women: values associated with low cardiovascular risk are above 40 mg/dL for the former and 48 mg/dL for the latter.

Customized goals

When the heart and arteries are already at risk, however, optimal cholesterol values may change. In particular, the most recent recommendations on LDL cholesterol control vary according to cardiovascular risk and can be summarized as follows:

•  in people characterized by low or moderate cardiovascular risk, LDL cholesterol should be kept below 115 mg/dL;
• in people with high cardiovascular risk LDL should be brought below 100 mg/dL, or if the initial values are between 100 and 200 mg/dL, it is recommended to reduce them by at least 50 percent;
• in people with very high cardiovascular risk, LDL cholesterol should be brought below 70 mg/dL, or, if the initial values are between 70 and 135 mg/dL, it is recommended to reduce them by at least 50 percent.
  

How to bring cholesterol back to normal

Depending on the individual condition, medication may be needed to bring cholesterol back to normal; your doctor will determine whether this is appropriate. On the other hand, a healthy lifestyle based on a healthy diet, regular physical activity and abstaining from smoking can never be ignored. In addition to helping restore or maintain cholesterol within optimal values, such a lifestyle also helps keep other cardiovascular risk factors under control, particularly body weight, blood sugar, blood pressure, and levels of triglycerides in the blood.

These can also be controlled by Omega 3-rich fish oil supplements such as Omegor products; find out with our pharmacist what its benefits are! 

Sources:

Catapano AL et al. 2016 ESC/EAS Guidelines for the Management of Dyslipidaemias: The Task Force for the Management of Dyslipidaemias of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) and European Atherosclerosis Society (EAS) Developed with the special contribution of the European Assocciation for Cardiovascular Prevention & Rehabilitation (EACPR). Atherosclerosis. 2016 Oct;253:281-344. doi: 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2016.08.018. Ministry of Health. Department of prevention and communication. Directorate general of veterinary health and food. Office XII. Guidelines for the prevention of atherosclerosis. Document approved by the Advisory Committee on Products for Special Dietary Use. September 2004. https://goo.gl/RKw6Mz Piepoli MF et al. 2016 European guidelines on cardiovascular disease prevention in clinical practice. G Ital Cardiol 2017;18(7-8):547-612. doi: 10.1714/2729.27821