Low HDL Cholesterol (Hypoalphalipoproteinemia) Treatment & Management
- Medical Care. Most individuals are diagnosed with hypoalphalipoproteinemia (HA) based on the results of a routine lipid profile measurement.
- Surgical Care. Hypoalphalipoproteinemia (HA) may not require any surgical intervention.
- Consultations. ...
- Diet. ...
- Activity
How to increase a low HDL?
Natural Ways to Increase HDL Cholesterol
- Don’t Smoke. As is always the case, smoking only makes health problems worse, and that includes HDL levels. ...
- Exercise More. To maintain a healthy body, you should exercise on a daily basis. ...
- Decrease Body Weight. ...
- Eat Healthier Fats. ...
- Reduce Refined Carbs. ...
- Keep Alcohol Consumption Moderate. ...
- Increase Niacin Intake. ...
- Consider Your Prescriptions. ...
How to increase HDL cholesterol levels naturally?
Some diet and lifestyle changes help boost HDL cholesterol levels:
- Get active. Physical activity can boost your HDL level. ...
- Lose extra weight. If you're overweight, losing extra pounds can help raise your HDL levels, as well as cut your LDL ("bad") cholesterol levels.
- Choose better fats. The healthier choices are monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats. ...
- Alcohol in moderation. ...
- Stop smoking. ...
Can losing weight alone reduce LDL and raise HDL?
Losing weight. One of the benefits of exercise could be weight loss. Reducing your weight can help raise your HDL and lower your LDL cholesterol levels. Analyze your genetics.
Is low HDL a problem when you have low LDL?
While having low triglycerides and low-density lipoprotein ( LDL) cholesterol can have a positive effect on your heart health, having low levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol may count against you. That's because HDL is considered "good cholesterol."
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How do you fix low HDL?
5 Ways to Raise Your HDL CholesterolGet active. Physical activity can boost your HDL level. ... Lose extra weight. If you're overweight, losing extra pounds can help raise your HDL levels, as well as cut your LDL ("bad") cholesterol levels.Choose better fats. ... Alcohol in moderation. ... Stop smoking.
What happens if HDL cholesterol is low?
The variation changes how this cholesterol works in the body and can lead to an increased risk of heart disease. Having low levels of HDL cholesterol can be of more concern, as it can indicate that the person is at risk of developing heart disease.
How can I raise my HDL supplement?
Niacin, a B vitamin, has long been used to increase high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol — the "good" cholesterol that helps remove low-density lipoprotein (LDL), the "bad" cholesterol from your bloodstream.
How do I restore my HDL cholesterol?
A few changes in your diet can reduce cholesterol and improve your heart health:Reduce saturated fats. Saturated fats, found primarily in red meat and full-fat dairy products, raise your total cholesterol. ... Eliminate trans fats. ... Eat foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids. ... Increase soluble fiber. ... Add whey protein.
What causes HDL to be low?
Lifestyle choices also affect HDL levels. Smoking, carrying too many pounds, and lack of physical activity tend to lower HDL. So does a diet high in refined carbohydrates (white bread, sugars, etc.). Medications such as beta blockers, anabolic steroids, progestins, and benzodiazepines can also depress HDL.
Does walking raise HDL?
Walking raises your “good” cholesterol and lowers your “bad” cholesterol. A brisk 30-minute walk three times per week is enough to raise your “good” cholesterol (HDL) and lower your “bad” cholesterol (LDL) a few points. This amount of exercise, even without weight loss, is shown to improve your cholesterol levels.
Do eggs increase HDL?
A small study in 38 healthy adults found that as many as 3 eggs per day improved LDL and HDL levels and the LDL-to-HDL ratio. Yet, experts might shy away from suggesting more than 2 eggs per day, with many still suggesting that you stick to 1 ( 34 ).
Does omega-3 raise HDL?
There's strong evidence that omega-3 fatty acids can significantly reduce blood triglyceride levels. There also appears to be a slight improvement in high-density lipoprotein (HDL, or "good") cholesterol, although an increase in levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL, or "bad") cholesterol also was observed.
Can vitamin D supplements increase cholesterol?
One 2012 study 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.
What foods raise cholesterol?
Saturated fats — such as those in meat, butter, cheese and other full-fat dairy products — raise your total cholesterol. Decreasing your consumption of saturated fats to less than 7 percent of your total daily calorie intake can reduce your LDL cholesterol by 8 to 10 percent.
What Are Optimal Levels of HDL?
Cholesterol levels are measured in milligrams (mg) of cholesterol per deciliter (dL) of blood or millimoles (mmol) per liter (L). When it comes to...
Make Your Lifestyle Count
HDL levels are typically lower in people who have metabolic syndrome — a cluster of conditions that include obesity, increased blood pressure and h...
Medications Can Boost Or Lower Hdl
HDL levels are sometimes improved by drugs used to lower LDL and triglyceride levels — such as prescription niacin; fibrates such as gemfibrozil (L...
Understanding the role of HDL cholesterol
Although you may hear a lot about lowering cholesterol numbers, HDL cholesterol is one type of cholesterol that you want as high as possible. That’s because HDL cholesterol is thought to carry low-density lipoprotein (LDL), or “bad,” cholesterol away from the arteries and back to the liver, where it’s removed from the body.
Boost HDL with lifestyle changes
There are a number of lifestyle changes you can make to improve your HDL cholesterol level. Keep in mind: The higher your HDL level, the better. Thankfully, most of these steps lower your LDL level at the same, providing extra heart-healthy benefits. Try to:
Explore medical treatment
If you’re unable to increase your HDL levels with positive lifestyle changes alone, ask your provider about the benefits of taking medicine. Many medicines work to reduce LDL cholesterol, but some also improve your HDL level. One includes niacin (Niaspan), a B vitamin that can boost HDL cholesterol when taken in prescription strength.
What is the best treatment for low HDL cholesterol?
Managing isolated low HDL cholesterol is also important. According to the ATP III, if a patient's TG levels are below 200 mg/dL (isolated low HDL cholesterol), the administration of drugs that increase HDL (fibrates or nicotinic acid) can be considered. Statins have only a modest effect. Treatment for isolated low HDL cholesterol is provided mainly to patients with CHD and CHD risk equivalents.
What is the LDL goal for CHD?
In the patients with established CHD or a CHD risk equivalent (10-year risk for CHD >20%), the LDL goal is under 100 mg/dL, and the goal for non-HDL cholesterol (LDL plus very–low-density lipoprotein [VLDL]) is below 130 mg/dL.
How much did Torcetrapib increase HDL?
At 12 months follow-up, patients who received torcetrapib demonstrated a mean increase of 72.1% in HDL cholesterol and a mean decrease of 24.9% in LDL cholesterol, as well as a mean decrease of 9% in TGs compared with baseline (all P < .001 vs atorvastatin-only patients). Beginning early in the trial, however, the 2 patient groups diverged with regard to the study's primary endpoint, a composite of first major cardiovascular events (CHD death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, stroke, and hospitalization for unstable angina).
How does CETP help with HDL?
CETP helps to exchange cholesterol between lipoproteins and can transfer it from HDL to LDL and VLDL. Individuals with a genetic mutation that causes the loss of all CETP activity have very high levels of HDL cholesterol. These individuals appear to be at lower risk of coronary disease. [ 30, 31]
Is low HDL cholesterol a risk factor for CHD?
Identify patients whose diet is very low in fat. A low HDL cholesterol level in this setting is rarely associated with an increased risk for premature CHD.
Does hypoalphalipoproteinemia require surgery?
Hypoalphalipoproteinemia (HA) may not require any surgical intervention. However, its association with and promotion of atherosclerosis may require a variety of surgical interventions, as follows:
Does estrogen help with CAD?
Estrogen replacement or hormone replacement therapy (HRT) raises HDL by about 8% in postmenopausal women, but its use is controversial; such treatment is not recommended for CAD prevention due to a demonstrated lack of benefit and the possible risk of increased thrombosis.
How to lower cholesterol and LDL?
In terms of diet, try to avoid trans fats, as they can increase LDL cholesterol and lower HDL cholesterol levels. Foods prepared with shortening, such as cakes and cookies, often contain trans fats, as do most fried foods and some margarines. Limit saturated fat, found in meats and full-fat dairy products, as well.
What drugs lower LDL?
HDL levels are sometimes improved by drugs used to lower LDL and triglyceride levels — such as prescription niacin; fibrates such as gemfibrozil (Lopid); and certain statins, particularly simvastatin (Zocor) and rosuvastatin (Crestor).
What are optimal levels of HDL cholesterol?
Cholesterol levels are measured in milligrams (mg) of cholesterol per deciliter (dL) of blood or millimoles (mmol) per liter (L). When it comes to HDL cholesterol, higher numbers are better.
Why were HDL levels halted?
But clinical trials for several drugs specifically designed to increase HDL levels were halted early because they didn't reduce the risk of heart attacks.
Why is HDL so high?
This may be caused by genetic factors.
Is HDL cholesterol good?
For HDL cholesterol, or "good" cholesterol, higher levels are better. High-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol is known as the " good" cholesterol because it helps remove other forms of cholesterol from your bloodstream. Higher levels of HDL cholesterol are associated with a lower risk of heart disease. Cholesterol is a waxy substance that's found ...
Does HDL increase heart rate?
Lifestyle changes known to increase HDL, such as moving more, quitting smoking or improving your diet, have been shown to lower the risk of heart attacks, However, medications that specifically increase HDL levels have failed to reduce the rate of heart attacks.
What causes no HDL levels in blood?
A rare genetic disease called Tangier disease can cause there to be no HDL levels in the blood when the person carries the disease from both of their parents. For someone with the Tangier disease gene from just one of their parents, HDL levels are 50% of normal levels. 1
When do you know if you have a low HDL?
Some people may not know they have low HDL levels until after a medical emergency, like a heart attack or stroke. Regularly following up with your healthcare provider for routine bloodwork helps monitor for any disease risks, like a low HDL level.
What does it mean when your LDL is high?
When LDL cholesterol levels are high, it means “too much” cholesterol is being delivered to the tissues. Some of this excess cholesterol can accumulate in arteries, accelerating atherosclerosis.
Which type of cholesterol transports cholesterol to the tissues of the body?
They are types of lipoproteins—specialized particles that transport cholesterol through the bloodstream. LDL carries cholesterol to the tissues of the body where it is used for vital cellular functions. HDL carries excess cholesterol out of the tissues of the body back to the liver, where it is reprocessed.
Does low HDL cholesterol cause health problems?
Consistently low HDL levels can worsen the symptoms of other health conditions. It may increase your risk for complications, like:
Does low HDL cholesterol cause cardiovascular disease?
There are no symptoms associated with low HDL levels, but low HDL levels increase your risk for cardiovascular disease, which does have symptoms. Understanding what HDL is can help protect your health from illness like cardiovascular disease.
Is low HDL a risk factor for heart failure?
Heart failure: Low HDL is associated with a higher risk for developing heart failure.
What is a low HDL?
A low level of circulating HDL-C represents a problem that is both common and clinically challenging, with a difficult-to-reconcile current database. National Cholesterol Treatment Panel guidelines suggest that a HDL-C level of <40 mg/dL be considered low. 1 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data indicate that 31% of men and 12% of women in the community currently meet this criterion. 2 The National Cholesterol Treatment Panel, in their more detailed text regarding metabolic syndrome, recognize sex-specific cutoffs of HDL-C <40 mg/dL for men and <50 mg/dL for women as undesirable. Low HDL, linked to premature coronary artery disease, is being identified with increasing frequency as lipid screening recommendations are increased.
How to increase HDL-C?
Aerobic Exercise. A high level of exercise was previously thought necessary in order to increase HDL-C levels. However, sustained and regular moderate-intensity activity can increase HDL-C levels by 5% to 10%.
What are the effects of HDL cholesterol?
HDL, in part, through its major apolipoprotein, apolipoprotein A-I, promotes cholesterol efflux and may also decrease vascular inflammation, increase nitric oxide levels (NO), and decrease thrombosis. These and other pleiotropic effects may relate to variable HDL characteristics involving particles (number, size, subtypes), the proteins present, relative apolipoprotein levels, and the specific lipid content. How these properties relate to total HDL-C levels, or respond to different HDL-raising therapies, remains unknown but offers other ways to consider HDL. Apo indicates apolipoprotein; CHO, cholesterol; HDL, high-density lipoprotein; and HDL-C, high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol.
What is the upper limit of lipoprotein A?
Lipoprotein (a), checked because of a family history of premature coronary artery disease, was 110 mg/dL (upper limit of normal, 40 mg/dL). A trial of niacin was started, and titrated, which the patient tolerated.
How does HDL-C affect cardiovascular disease?
Numerous models have been proposed, based mainly on animal or in vitro models. HDL-C promotes reverse cholesterol transport, which facilitates cholesterol transport from peripheral lipid-laden macrophages to the liver for biliary excretion. In this construct, HDL is atheroprotective by removing cholesterol from pathological sites, like the vasculature, and depositing it in the liver and gastrointestinal tract. Considerable preclinical research also suggests other HDL properties that might decrease atherosclerotic complications, including anti-inflammatory effects, decreased low-density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation, increased nitric oxide production, decreased endothelial adhesion molecule expression, decreased thrombogenicity, and decreased inflammatory-induced apoptosis ( Figure 2 ).
How much niacin can increase HDL-C?
Niacin, otherwise known as nicotinic acid or vitamin B 3, when prescribed at a dose of 1 to 2 g per day, can increase HDL-C levels 15% to 30%, the most potent effect among currently available medications. Niacin also favorably alters LDL-C, triglyceride, and in some cases, lipoprotein (a) levels. In the Coronary Drug Project, a secondary prevention trial in men performed in the 1960s, niacin reduced myocardial infarctions by 26% 12; on long-term follow-up, mortality was also significantly decreased ( Figure 1B ).
Does dalcetrapib increase HDL?
CETP inhibitors, like dalcetrapib, can significantly increase HDL levels, but have yet to show clinical benefit, as seen in Dalcetrapib Outcomes Study (dal-OUTCOMES) (post–acute coronary syndrome trial). AIM-HIGH indicates Atherothrombosis Intervention in Metabolic Syndrome with Low HDL/High Triglycerides: Impact on Global Health Outcomes; CAD, ...
What are some examples of low HDL?
An example is a person who is overweight and smokes and is found to have a low HDL on a routine blood test. Instead of prescribing a medication to increase the HDL to a "normal" number, a healthcare provider will focus on smoking cessation counseling, exercise, and weight loss. These measures can all effectively raise the HDL
How to increase HDL?
Limiting saturated fats (for example, butter, cream, whole or 2 percent milk, beef, pork, chicken with skin) and substituting them for monounsaturated fats like fatty fish, olives, and avocados can raise your HDL. Sedentary lifestyle: Adding moderate exercise to your daily routine may help increase your HDL levels slightly.
What is the best HDL level for women?
Optimal HDL levels vary for women and men. Anything over 40 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) for men is considered optimal, and over 50 mg/dL for women. 4 However, healthcare providers focus less on the actual HDL "number" and more on a person's entire heart health and how their individual HDL level fits into that picture.
Why is HDL important?
Your HDL level is important, but your healthcare provider will likely focus less on the precise number and more on what it means. They will interpret your HDL level within the context of your risk factors for heart disease like your family history, weight, activity level, whether you smoke, and whether you have other medical conditions like high blood pressure or diabetes.
Is low HDL cholesterol bad for you?
In fact, studies have shown that low HDL levels are linked to an increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease. 1 This is especially true if other lipids, such as LDL cholesterol and triglycerides, in your blood are also high. Likewise, research suggests that to a certain extent, high HDL levels are linked to a lower risk ...
Does HDL decrease with lifestyle?
There are a number of conditions and lifestyle choices that play a role in lowering HDL levels. While these may not be a factor for you, think about these issues and discuss with your healthcare provider: 5
Does excess weight affect HDL?
Excess weight: Having excess weight can cause a number of health conditions, including a decrease in your HDL levels. If you are overweight or obese, losing weight can increase these levels and lower your risk of heart disease.