Cholesterol

What is cholesterol?

Cholesterol is a fatty substance which is found in the blood.  It is mainly made in the body.  Cholesterol plays an essential role in how every cell in the body works.  However, too much cholesterol in the blood can increase your risk of heart problems. 

LDL cholesterol and HDL cholesterol

Cholesterol is carried around the body by proteins.  These combinations of cholesterol and proteins are called lipoproteins. There are two main types of lipoproteins:

• LDL (low-density lipoprotein) is the harmful type of cholesterol. 
• HDL (high-density lipoprotein) is a protective type of cholesterol.

Having too much harmful cholesterol in your blood can increase your risk of getting cardiovascular disease.  The risk is particularly high if you have a high level of LDL cholesterol and a low level of HDL cholesterol.

Triglycerides

Triglycerides are another type of fatty substance in the blood. They are found in foods such as dairy products, meat and cooking oils. They can also be produced in the body, either by the body’s fat stores or in the liver. People who are very overweight, eat a lot of fatty and sugary foods, or drink too much alcohol are more likely to have a high triglyceride level.

People with high triglyceride levels have a greater risk of developing cardiovascular disease than people with lower levels. 

What causes high cholesterol?

One of the causes of high blood cholesterol levels amount people in the UK is eating too much saturated fat. The cholesterol which is found in some foods such as eggs, liver, kidneys and some types of seafood eg. prawns, does not usually make a great contribution to the level of cholesterol in your blood.  It is much more important that you eat foods that are low in saturated fat. 

However, some people have high blood cholesterol even though they eat a healthy diet.  For example, they may have inherited a condition called familial hyperlipidaemia (FH).  For more information on FH, please download our booklet Reducing your blood cholesterol (see below under further information).

How can I reduce my cholesterol levels?

To help reduce your cholesterol level, you need to cut down on saturated fats and trans fats and replace them with monounsaturated fats and polyunsaturated fats.  You should also reduce the total amount of fat you eat. 

Eat oily fish regularly.  Oily fish provides the richest source of a particular type of polyunsaturated fat known as omega-3 fats which can help to lower blood triglyceride levels and also helps prevent the blood from clotting, and help to regulate the heart rhythm. 

Eat a high-fibre diet.  Foods that are high in 'soluble fibre' such as porridge, beans, pulses, lentils, nuts, fruits and vegetables, can help lower cholesterol.  Please see our fact sheet Fibre in our Any Questions/FAQ section.

Doing regular physical activity can help increase your HDL cholesterol (the 'protective' type of cholesterol).

Will eating sterol-enriched foods help reduce my cholesterol level?

There is evidence to show that substances called ‘plant sterols’ and ‘stanols’ may help reduce cholesterol levels. They are added to certain foods including margarines, spreads, soft cheeses and yoghurts.  For more information please see our fact sheet Plant sterols and stanols in our Any Questions/FAQ section.

Will I need to take medication?

Whether you need to take cholesterol-lowering drugs or not depends not just on your total cholesterol, HDL and LDL levels, but also on your overall risk of coronary heart disease.

Cholesterol-lowering medicines such as statins are prescribed for people who are at greatest overall risk of suffering from coronary heart disease.  For more information on statins please see our fact sheet Statins in our Any Questions/FAQ section.

For further information:

Listen to our podcast

Controlling Your Cholesterol
The top five things you can do to lower your cholesterol

(Note: to download our podcast direct from this site right-click the link above select 'Save Target As' and save to your computer.)

Download our booklet
Reducing your blood cholesterol

Please visit our Publications section to download or order our resources on healthy eating, physical activity and keeping your heart healthy.

You may also wish to contact the following organisation:

Heart UK is a national cholesterol charity for patients and their families and can help with specific enquiries particularly with Familial Hypercholesterolaemia
Helpline: 0845 450 5988
Email: ask@heartuk.org.uk
Website:  www.heartuk.org.uk