Does Vitamin D Lower Cholesterol

Health Implications Of Vitamin D

Increased circulating 25D has been linked with improved glucose handling and beta-cell function22 and a growing list of long-latency diseases that include cardiovascular disease,28,29,121,122 multiple sclerosis,123125 rheumatoid arthritis,126 type 1 and 2 diabetes,126 and at least 15 types of cancers.26,127134 While these studies describe strong correlation with vitamin D deficiency, they do not provide proof of causality or a mechanism of action. Two studies have begun to decipher the riddle of vitamin Ds role in maintaining the innate immune system with profound implications.32,135 Some of these data, as well as additional studies, have been summarized in a recent review regarding the optimization of circulating 25D levels to reduce the risk of long-latency disease states.136

Ideally, the total circulating 25D should mirror what is attained by those who live and work in a sun-rich environment who have levels of 5490 ng/mL65,137,138 and not by those who are sunlight-deprived or covered from sunlight.139 The debate about what constitutes frank deficiency, insufficiency, and sufficiency continues. Depending on what biomarker one chooses, there could be a different cutoff point for each category. Most, however, would agree that levels below 50 nmol/L represent deficiency whether that label extends to 70 or even 80 nmol/L is less clear.

Medication May Be Needed

For some people, diet and lifestyle changes are not enough. High blood cholesterol levels often have a genetic component. Some people inherit altered genes that cause high cholesterol and this cannot usually be changed sufficiently by lifestyle or diet.

If you are at risk of coronary heart disease and your LDL cholesterol level doesnt drop after scrupulous attention to diet, your doctor may recommend medications to force your blood LDL levels down. Cell cholesterol levels, however, remain normal, so lowering blood cholesterol has no effect on most cell metabolic processes.

Some people get muscle aches from statins, which are the most commonly used medication to lower blood cholesterol. However, diet and exercise will still be important, even if you are taking medication. Your doctor may also refer you to a specialist who treats cardiovascular disease.

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How Quickly Does Oatmeal Lower Cholesterol

Oatmeal is a great option whether you make it simple or dress it up with fruit, seeds and nuts. But besides just being an Instagram-worthy bowl of goodness, oatmeal offers a particularly impressive benefit. Eating just one and one-half cups of cooked oatmeal a day can lower your cholesterol by 5 to 8%.

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Natural Analogs Of Vitamin D

• Vitamin D1 is a molecular compound of ergocalciferol with lumisterol in a 1:1 ratio.

• Vitamin D2 is produced by invertebrates, some plants, and fungi. Biological production of D2 is stimulated by ultraviolet light.

• Vitamin D3 is synthesized in the skin by the reaction of 7-dehydrocholesterol with UVB radiation, present in sunlight with an UV index of three or more.

• Vitamin D4 is an analog scientifically known as 22-dihydroergocalciferol.

• Vitamin D5 is an analog created from 7-dehydrositosterol.

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Does Vitamin D Lower Cholesterol

Theres conflicting information when it comes to the link between cholesterol and vitamin D.

Population studies show that people with lower vitamin D levels are more likely to have high cholesterol, although this doesnt prove a cause and effect relationship.

One found that vitamin D supplements have no cholesterol-lowering effects, at least in the short term. In fact, the researchers found that the supplements were actually associated with an increase in LDL.

However, found that taking calcium and vitamin D supplements together improved cholesterol levels in postmenopausal, overweight, or obese women.

The verdict, according to the National Institutes of Health , is that theres insufficient evidence to determine any relationship between your vitamin D intake and your cholesterol levels.

But with the host of benefits that vitamin D provides to those that use it, theres still no deterrent in using vitamin D as part of your healthy lifestyle.

According to the Mayo Clinic, daily vitamin D use is safe in doses up to 4,000 IU .

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Vitamins To Lower Cholesterol

In 30 seconds

Reducing Cholesterol works best with a holistic approach that includes eating well, cutting bad habits and exercising more but vitamins can be a useful way to boost results.When taking vitamins for Cholesterol, its important to stick to the guidelines and be aware of side effects as well as the benefits.Vitamins can help lower cholesterol, but theyre not a substitution for a healthy lifestyle.

When youre looking for ways to reduce cholesterol, one of the first considerations we make is what were eating. High cholesterol has a number of causes, but smoking, drinking and regularly eating fatty foods is the main culprit so it makes sense to switch to healthier meals to improve your heart health. But can vitamins help reduce cholesterol? And which ones should you take?

In this article, well look at the best vitamins for cholesterol. Whether youre looking for preventative steps to reduce total cholesterol in the body, or supplementing a new cholesterol-lowering diet, taking vitamins can be a helpful way to boost results and lower cholesterol naturally.

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Vitamin D Supplement Fails To Lower Cholesterol In Short Term

Date:

American Heart Association

Summary:

Taking vitamin D supplements to compensate for vitamin D deficiency didnt improve cholesterol at least in the short term, according to new research.

Taking vitamin D supplements to compensate for vitamin D deficiency didn’t improve cholesterol — at least in the short term, according to new research in Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology, an American Heart Association journal.

Researchers studied 151 people with vitamin D deficiency who received either a mega-dose of vitamin D3 or placebo weekly for eight weeks. Participants’ cholesterol levels were measured before and after treatment.

Correcting vitamin D deficiencies with high doses of oral vitamin D supplements did not change cholesterol levels, researchers found. This was despite effectively increasing vitamin D to recommended levels. Vitamin D levels nearly tripled in the group that received actual supplements, but were unchanged in the placebo group.

“Our study challenges the notion that vitamin D repletion improves cholesterol levels” said Manish Ponda, M.D., M.S., study lead author and assistant professor of clinical investigation in Dr. Jan Breslow’s laboratory of biochemical genetics and metabolism at The Rockefeller University in New York, N.Y. “These clinical trial results confirm those from a recent data mining study.”

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Is Your Ldl Too High

Having high levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol significantly increases the risk of cardiovascular disease. Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the US. In fact, over 73.5 million Americans have levels of LDL that are too high and are not being treated. While the best heart disease prevention is a healthy lifestyle, some supplements can help lower cholesterol and improve cardiovascular health.

What To Do Instead: Make Lifestyle Changes

The only proven way to reduce cholesterol naturally is to adopt lifelong healthy habits and ditch the not-so-great ones, says Dr. Martin. Stop smoking. Try a Mediterranean diet. Skip processed, high-in-saturated-fat foods as much as possible. Find a form of exercise you can be consistent with . The American Heart Association is a good place to start for tips and ideas, but talk to your doctor about what will work for you. Sometimes, diet and exercise can only go so far you may need prescription statins to help get your cholesterol to a comfortable level.

• Fish Oil for Heart Health:Journal of the American Medical Association. . Effect of High-Dose Omega-3 Fatty Acids vs Corn Oil on Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events in Patients at High Cardiovascular Risk: The STRENGTH Randomized Clinical Trial. jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/2773120
• Red Yeast Rice Extract:European Journal of Preventive Cardiology. . Variability in strength of red yeast rice supplements purchased from mainstream retailers. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28641460/
• Garlic and Cholesterol:Archive of Internal Medicine. . Effect of Raw Garlic vs Commercial Garlic Supplements on Plasma Lipid Concentrations in Adults With Moderate Hypercholesterolemia: A Randomized Clinical Trial. jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/411743

Some of the more common side effects of niacin can include:

• reddening and warming of your face
• diarrhea

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Supplement A Healthy Lifestyle

Heart disease is a significant concern for Americans. Living a healthy lifestyle, exercising regularly, and supplementing a nutritious diet with certain vitamins and herbs can help to lower cholesterol and improve heart health. Speak with a healthcare provider or pharmacist to find out what heart health supplements are best.

Enjoy Lots Of Fruits And Vegetables

Eating fruits and vegetables is an easy way to lower LDL cholesterol levels.

Studies show that adults who consume at least four servings of fruits and vegetables each day have roughly 6% lower LDL cholesterol levels than people who eat fewer than two servings per day .

Fruits and vegetables also contain high numbers of antioxidants, which prevent LDL cholesterol from oxidizing and forming plaques in your arteries .

Together, these cholesterol-lowering and antioxidant effects can reduce your risk of heart disease.

Research has found that people who eat the most fruits and vegetables have a 17% lower risk of developing heart disease over 10 years compared to those who eat the fewest .

Summary Eating at least four servings of fruits and vegetables daily can lower LDL cholesterol levels and reduce LDL oxidation, which may reduce your risk of heart disease.

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Sunshine Or Supplements Cholesterol Concerns Must Be Considered With Vitamin D Says Expert

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Speaking to NutraIngredients-Asia, Dr. Anuradha Khadilkar, deputy director of the Hirabai Cowasji Jehangir Medical Research Institute in Pune, India, said high doses of vitamin D supplementation could, in some cases, raise the overall lipid profile of an individual.

This, he said, should be considered by clinicians recommending high doses for deficiencies as well as the nutrition industry making vitamin D supplements and fortified foods.

Increases in cholesterol due to vitamin D supplements may be a health concern, he said.

Measuring cholesterol

Discussing his recently published research in the Indian Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Khadilkar said a randomized control trial among middle-aged, vitamin D-deficient Indian men showed the negative side of supplementation.

A total of 203 men, aged 40-60, participated in the study and were split into three groups control, increased sunlight exposure and cholecalciferol supplementation.

The study ran for six months with daily interventions and an overall compliance of 95% and measured 25-Hydroxy vitamin D levels the major circulating form of vitamin D and the precursor of the active form as well as total cholesterol , low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels.

Among the sunlight exposure group there was a significant decrease in TC of 9.4% and LDL-C also dropped 7.2%. A small decrease of 3.3% was also noted in the HDL-C levels for this group.

The Effect Of Vitamin D Supplementation On Blood Lipids In Minorities With Type 2 Diabetes

Joel C. Exebio1,2, Sahar Ajabshir1,3, Adriana Campa1, Tan Li4, Gustavo G. Zarini1 and Fatma G. Huffman1*

1Dietetics and Nutrition Department, Robert Stempel College of Public Health and Social Work, Florida International University, USA

2Dietetics and Nutrition Department, School of Allied Health, Keiser University, USA

3Cellular Biology and Pharmacology Department, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University, USA

4Biostatistics Department, Robert Stempel College of Public Health and Social Work, Florida International University, USA

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Does Drinking A Lot Of Water Lower Cholesterol

no one has shown that drinking more water or fluid in general to improve day-to-day hydration status does anything to lower cholesterol levels and decrease your risk of heart disease or stroke, said the bottom line. In other words, it doesnt matter how much water you drink, if you dont drink enough of it, youre going to have a hard time losing weight.

Transport Into The Cell

When a cell requires additional cholesterol , it synthesizes the necessary LDL receptors as well as PCSK9, a proprotein convertase that marks the LDL receptor for degradation. LDL receptors are inserted into the plasma membrane and diffuse freely until they associate with clathrin-coated pits. When LDL receptors bind LDL particles in the bloodstream, the clathrin-coated pits are endocytosed into the cell.

Vesicles containing LDL receptors bound to LDL are delivered to the endosome. In the presence of low pH, such as that found in the endosome, LDL receptors undergo a conformation change, releasing LDL. LDL is then shipped to the lysosome, where cholesterol esters in the LDL are hydrolysed. LDL receptors are typically returned to the plasma membrane, where they repeat this cycle. If LDL receptors bind to PCSK9, however, transport of LDL receptors is redirected to the lysosome, where they are degraded.

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Can Fish Oil Lower Cholesterol

-linolenic acid , eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid are the three types of omega 3s involved in human physiology. ALA can be found in plants, while DHA and EPA can be found in fish. There appears to be a slight improvement in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, although an increase in levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol.

• Does vitamin D raise cholesterol?

The Synthesis Of Androgens And Estrogens From Pregnenolone

Androgens and estrogens also are synthesized from pregnenolone through the intermediate progesterone. Androgens contain 19 carbon atoms. The synthesis of androgens starts with the hydroxylation of progesterone at -17. The side chain consisting of C-20 and C-21 is then cleaved to yield androstenedione, an androgen. Testosterone, another androgen, is formed by the reduction of the 17-keto group of androstenedione. Testosterone, through its actions in the brain, is paramount in the development of male sexual behavior. It is also important for maintenance of the testes and development of muscle mass. Owing to the latter activity, testosterone is referred to as an anabolic steroid. Testosterone is reduced by 5a-reductase to yield dihydrotestosterone , a powerful embryonic androgen that instigates the development and differentiation of the male phenotype. Estrogens are synthesized from androgens by the loss of the C-19 angular methyl group and the formation of an aromatic ring. Estrone, an estrogen, is derived from androstenedione, whereas estradiol, another estrogen, is formed from testosterone.

Pathways for the Formation for Androgens and Estrogens.

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Estimation Of Ldl Particles Via Cholesterol Content

Chemical measures of lipid concentration have long been the most-used clinical measurement, not because they have the best correlation with individual outcome, but because these lab methods are less expensive and more widely available.

The lipid profile does not measure LDL particles. It only estimates them using the Friedewald equationby subtracting the amount of cholesterol associated with other particles, such as HDL and VLDL, assuming a prolonged fasting state, etc.:

L T

where H is HDL cholesterol, L is LDL cholesterol, C is total cholesterol, T are triglycerides, and k is 0.20 if the quantities are measured in mg/dl and 0.45 if in mmol/l.

There are limitations to this method, most notably that samples must be obtained after a 12 to 14 h fast and that LDL-C cannot be calculated if plasma triglyceride is > 4.52 mmol/L . Even at triglyceride levels 2.5 to 4.5 mmol/L, this formula is considered inaccurate. If both total cholesterol and triglyceride levels are elevated then a modified formula, with quantities in mg/dl, may be used

L T

This formula provides an approximation with fair accuracy for most people, assuming the blood was drawn after fasting for about 14 hours or longer, but does not reveal the actual LDL particle concentration because the percentage of fat molecules within the LDL particles which are cholesterol varies, as much as 8:1 variation.

Normal ranges

Does Magnesium Lower Cholesterol

There is a correlation between elevated levels of bad cholesterol and low levels of magnesium. There is an increased risk of heart attack and stroke for people who have high levels of low density lipoproteins. Both humans and animals were found to have lowered bad cholesterol levels by taking magnesium.

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Vitamin D: Vital For Health

Its long been known that Vitamin D functions with calcium to keep bones healthy and avoid deformities such as rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults. But it is becoming increasingly clear that it also plays a vital role for our immune system, helping to fight off bacterial, viral and fungal invaders.

Vitamin D appears to boost immunity through several ways, such as helping immune cells to function properly and dampening the inflammatory response.1,2,3 There is even some evidence that it protects against coronavirus, since low Vitamin D levels have been associated with both a higher number of coronavirus deaths and cases for European countries and more severe outcomes for individuals affected by the disease.4,5It may be no coincidence that the pandemic broke out in winter, when peoples Vitamin D levels are typically at their lowest.6

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Direct Measurement Of Ldl Particle Concentrations

There are several competing methods for measurement of lipoprotein particle concentrations and size. The evidence is that the NMR methodology results in a 22-25% reduction in cardiovascular events within one year, contrary to the longstanding claims by many in the medical industry that the superiority over existing methods was weak, even by statements of some proponents.

Since the later 1990s, because of the development of NMR measurements, it has been possible to clinically measure lipoprotein particles at lower cost and higher accuracy. There are two other assays for LDL particles, however, like LDL-C, most only estimate LDL particle concentrations.

Direct LDL particle measurement by NMR was mentioned by the ADA and ACC, in a 28 March 2008 joint consensus statement, as having advantages for predicting individual risk of atherosclerosis disease events, but the statement noted that the test is less widely available, is more expensive ]. Debate continues that it is “…unclear whether LDL particle size measurements add value to measurement of LDL-particle concentration”, though outcomes have always tracked LDL particle, not LDL-C, concentrations.

Optimal ranges

The LDL particle concentrations are typically categorized by percentiles, < 20%, 2050%, 50th80th%, 80th95% and > 95% groups of the people participating and being tracked in the MESA trial, a medical research study sponsored by the United States National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.

MESA Percentile

190

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