Story of Cholesterol

Cholesterol is the most well known villain in the Medical world today. It is one of the most important items forming the walls in every cell of the body and is indispensable for existence of life. Lately the increased blood level of this very important organic chemical has been found to be one of the leading cause of the killer Heart Attacks. Thus, more and more people know it for its notorious role rather than useful role.

Cholesterol is a long chain fatty acid (different from triglycerides or oils or fats which has three fatty acids) – consisting of 27 carbon atoms, 46 hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom. It is supposed to be “the highly decorated small molecule in Biology”. It has been so important in medical science that since 1986 a number of noble prices have been awarded to the scientists making breakthrough in the research of cholesterol. This tiny molecule forms a major role in the heart disease and in the long run it has indirectly proved more fatal than the most powerful atom bombs!

Cholesterol is found only in animals. Plants and vegetables contain related molecules, which are not absorbed by the human body. All animal products can predispose to high intake of cholesterol. 93% of the body’s cholesterol is located in the cells and only 7% which circulates in the blood, has been held responsible for the formation of blockage.

Cholesterol level in the blood is not safe when about 200mg/100 ml. For reversal of blockages it is recommended to keep this level at 130mg/100ml. On an average the intake of cholesterol by humans who eat meat is above 600 mg/day. Vegetarians who take a lot of milk and milk products have about 200-400 mg/day.

The maintenance level of blood cholesterol depends on (i) Intake in form of food (ii) Production of cholesterol inside liver and other tissues (iii) Use of cholesterol by the body.

The intake of cholesterol in food can be lowered by non-consumption of non-vegetarian food items and can be easily curtailed. As it may not be feasible to cut the production inside the body without harming the liver, SAAOL recommends a minimal intake. (10mg/day or less). However, in some people who are genetically conditioned to produce little more cholesterol, have to take some drugs, if they cannot control the blood level by diet alone. Exercise and physical activity leads to more breakdown of cholesterol. Stress or tension can additionally increase blood cholesterol level.

TRIGLYCERIDES THE EDIBLE OIL

We already know that Energy or Calories are derived in our body from only three kinds of food – Carbohydrates (Cereals, fruits, vegetables, Sugar and items made from them), Proteins (Pulses or dals, non vegetarian food) and fats. More than 99% of the consumed fats, by almost all of us, are Triglycerides. When the body breaks these triglycerides, each gram of Triglyceride will give us 9 calories of energy.

WHICH OIL IS GOOD?

It is a deep rooted belief in Indian house holds that one cannot prepare meals without oil but with taste intact. A variety of oils are available in the market. Many oil manufactures claim that consumption of their brand will help reduce the chances of heart disease. The slogan which is commonly used is “Heart friendly oil” which is not true. All oil manufacturing companies give one reason or the other in favour of their product, e.g. “Oil keeps your family active and fit”, “oil adds healthy goodness to your cooking”, “helps reduce cholesterol levels”, “brings out the true taste of good food while making it easy to digest”, “one feels active throughout the day… if you consume our oil” and “soy oil is healthy for heart as it is rich in polyunsaturates”…..  and so on. All vegetable oils have one thing common in their composition i.e. zero percent cholesterol content.

The fact is that cholesterol is present only in animal products. And since all these oils come from plant products , there is no question of cholesterol being present in them. The oil companies highlight the “zero cholesterol “ slogan in order to promote their product and the consumer gets misleaded. No oil made from vegetable or plant origin contains cholesterol.

All oils, whether corn oil, soya oil, sun flower oil or Kardi oil, are full of triglycerides. Consumption of 10gm of any oil will provide 90 cal. What one must understand is that this is just a marketing strategy used by the promoters of the oil companies. Triglycerides i.e. Oil in any form whether saturated , monounsatured, polyunsaturated or mixed, promotes the process of blockaging and is hence Bad for the heart.

SHOULD OIL AND CHOLESTEROL BE RESTRICTED IN YOUR CHILD

No. Nutrition for children should promote growth and meet energy and nutrient needs without promoting overfatness. Parents can assist their children in making positive food choices.  Habits formed in childhood are likely to carry into adult years. No food should be forbidden in a child’s diet. Children grow till the age of 30 years and in the growing years their body requires these fats. Keeping fat intake at moderate levels without going to extremes is the key. Parents who are too restrictive with fat intake will limit a child’s ability to eat sufficient calories to maintain growth. However screening is advocated for children and adolescents whose parents and grandparents develop heart disease or have high lipids.

HOW CHOLESTEROL LEVEL RUNS IN THE FAMILY?

Mr. Basu, 55, retired cannot sit on the breakfast table without a newspaper. Being an avid reader he has read in one of those articles that sometimes HIGH Cholesterol levels run in the family.

He called on one of his friend who is a doctor, to confirm it. Aware that his levels are elevated he asked his two sons to go in for a check, who reluctantly agreed, only to be surprised to find alarmingly high levels of Cholesterol, despite a low fat intake in the meals.

Average diet supplies about 500 milligrams of cholesterol per day. Another 1000 milligram is synthesized in the body. Liver and Intestines are the principal sources for blood cholesterol. Also it is produced in Skin, Adrenal glands, Testes & Ovary. It is used in the formation of Vitamin D, few Hormones and Skin.

The increase in Cholesterol can be classified as secondary and primary.

Secondary means precipitation because of another disease e.g. Diabetes, Myxoedema, Nephrotic syndrome, chronic alcoholism and few drugs which include Steroids (life saving anti inflammatory agents), Oral Contraceptives (the birth control pill), etc.

Primary can be because of genetic factors (i.e. genes passed on in a family) and also to add to it is the dietary and physical activity factors.

Known as Familial Hypercholesterolemia there is an increase of LDL and Cholesterol levels in the blood. Either the LDL binding to the cells is poor or transfer inside the cells is poor leaving it suspended in the blood and subsequently harming the inside of wall of blood vessels. Normally the Cholesterol inside the body, but her this mechanism fails, hence excessive synthesis of Cholesterol by the Liver leading to elevated levels of Cholesterol and also LDL. The receptors for LDL in the cells may be markedly reduced or even altogether absent.

Hope you liked this article!

This article is written by Dr. Bimal Chajjer (India's best heart specialist)