8 little-known but fascinating facts about cholesterol

8 little-known but fascinating facts about cholesterol

For a substance in our body that has been vilified over the years, cholesterol is actually quite fascinating. Plus, there are many little-known facts few people know about it.  This waxy, fat-like compound found in every cell in the body is an interesting part of us with few of us completely understanding its implications for our health.

Here are some facts about cholesterol that may come as a surprise and can clear up any confusion often associated with it:

1.  Cholesterol has many jobs important for our survival – From the day we are born

     cholesterol is already within us.  We need cholesterol for the following reasons:

·      To help us make the steroid hormones of testosterone, estrogen, and progesterone

·       It is a precursor of vitamin D  in which cholesterol is required to help make it

·      To make bile which helps digest fat found in food

·      It is necessary in the structure of cell membranes

2.  Cholesterol is only found in foods of animal origin

Many people may mistakenly believe high-fat foods such as donuts, potato chips, or cookies and cake contain cholesterol.  They do not unless they have an ingredient that is of animal origin. Foods of animal origin include red meat (beef, pork, lamb), poultry, fish, eggs, milk, cheese, and butter. 

3.  Children can have elevated cholesterol levels

We tend to only hear of high cholesterol levels in adults but children are also susceptible to developing this condition.  The buildup of plaque begins early during childhood and continues on into adulthood.  The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends cholesterol screening for all children between ages 9 and 11.

4.  The main influence of high cholesterol is genetics

There is much emphasis on controlling our food choices, exercise and taking medications to reduce cholesterol.  These are all well and good lifestyle changes but the primary reason for most people with high cholesterol levels is due to genetics.  About 75% of cholesterol is due to hereditary influences while 25% is due to our diet. Know your family medical history and if a family member has a history of high cholesterol or of an early heart attack before the age of 50, tell your doctor and have your cholesterol levels tested.

5.  There is no minimum amount of cholesterol required

The majority of our cholesterol found in the blood comes from what our liver makes to meet the body’s needs.  People who are vegans do not consume any cholesterol since they consume no animal foods and they get along fine without it in their diet.  The American Heart Association recommends to keep cholesterol intake below 300 milligrams a day and under 200 milligrams a day if you have heart disease.

6.  A sign of high cholesterol can be xanthomas on the skin

Xanthoma is a condition in which fatty growths appear underneath the skin.  They can appear anywhere on the body but are often found on joints such as the knees and elbows.  This skin condition is more common in people with medical conditions such as high cholesterol that cause high blood lipids. 

7.  Cholesterol levels in women can fluctuate

Generally, women have lower cholesterol numbers than men.  But throughout the course of their lives, their levels can go up and down.  During pregnancy, cholesterol levels rise which is thought to help the babies brain develop.  Post-pregnancy, the levels return to normal.  After menopause, the levels go up again while the good or protective HDL levels decline.  By the time a woman reaches age 75, her cholesterol levels are often higher than a man’s.

8.  Having too low of a cholesterol level is not necessarily a good thing

The emphasis is always on reducing cholesterol levels that are too high (above 200 mg/dl).  But what if total cholesterol is too low?  Is that a good thing?  Research is still ongoing but if total cholesterol is below 140 mg/dl, it is considered unusually low even though perfectly healthy people can have levels in this range.  For adults, normal cholesterol levels are between 140 and 200 mg/dl. 

Although the risks are rare, very low levels (less than 40 mg/dl) of LDL (bad) cholesterol may be associated with an increased risk of cancer, hemorrhagic stroke, depression, anxiety, preterm birth and low birth weight if cholesterol is low while pregnant.