Cholesterol elevated levels

Cholesterol is biosynthesized in the liver trans ported throughout the body to be used in a va riety of ways and returned to the liver where it serves as the biosynthetic precursor to other steroids But cholesterol is a lipid and isn t soluble in water How can it move through the blood if it doesn t dis solve in if The answer is that it doesn t dissolve but IS instead carried through the blood and tissues as part of a lipoprotein (lipid + protein = lipoprotein) The proteins that carry cholesterol from the liver are called low density lipoproteins or LDLs those that return it to the liver are the high-density lipoproteins or HDLs If too much cholesterol is being transported by LDL or too little by HDL the extra cholesterol builds up on the walls of the arteries caus mg atherosclerosis A thorough physical examination nowadays measures not only total cholesterol con centration but also the distribution between LDL and HDL cholesterol An elevated level of LDL cholesterol IS a risk factor for heart disease LDL cholesterol is bad cholesterol HDLs on the other hand remove excess cholesterol and are protective HDL cholesterol IS good cholesterol... 

Atherosclerosis is a degenerative disease which is characterized by cholesterol-containing thickening of arterial walls. Saturated fatty acids, high levels of cholesterol, elevated blood pressure, and elevated serum lipoprotein are well-knowm risk... 

Elevated levels of cholesterol present in VLDL, IDL, or LDL are associated with atherosclerosis, whereas high levels of HDL have a protective effect. 

It has been known for many years that elevated levels of serum cholesterol are associated with atherosclerosis, although the cause-effect relationship remains unproven. A rather straightforward therapeutic regimen intended for prevention or arrest of the progress of this disease involves lowering levels of serum cholesterol in the high-risk population. 

The data obtained with SERMs are more mixed. Tamoxifen attenuated atheroma development in apoE-null mice, an effect that correlated with changes in the lipoprotein profile and with elevated levels of transforming growth factor-/ (Reckless et al. 1997). The accumulation of cholesterol in atherosclerotic lesions (Bjarnason et al. 1997) in the aorta was limited by... 

A variety of clinical studies have demonstrated that elevated levels of total cholesterol (total-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and apolipoprotein B (apo B) are associated with... 

It is well-established that an elevated level of cholesterol, particnlarly that carried largely in the form of LDLs, is an independent risk factor for the development of atherosclerosis and its sequelae, including coronary artery disease (leading to heart attacks), strokes, and peripheral arterial disease. 

An elevated level of plasma cholesterol, particularly that carried in LDLs, is an independent risk factor for developing cardiovascular disease. Cholesterol comes from dietary sources and is made in the body, largely in the liver. 

Atherosclerosis is a condition of the organism characterized by elevated levels of atherogenic lipoproteins in blood plasma, lipid deposits (including cholesterol) in the form of esters inside walls of the arterial system, and it is expressed by a gradual difficulty of blood circulation. The most appropriate name for this disease is lipoproteinemia. Clinically, it is manifested in the form of ischemic heart disease, stroke, abnormal cerebral blood flow, and peripheral ischemia. 

Cholesterol elevation Ticlopidine therapy causes increased serum cholesterol and triglycerides. Serum total cholesterol levels are increased 8% to 10% within 1 month of therapy and persist at that level. The ratios of lipoprotein subtractions are unchanged. 

Serum cholesterol elevation Clinically relevant increases in serum cholesterol were recorded in venlafaxine-treated patients in placebo-controlled trials. Consider measurement of serum cholesterol levels during long-term treatment. 

Principal risk factors for heart disease are elevated levels of LDL cholesterol, a family history of heart disease, and hypertension. Other risks include being male, smoking, low levels of high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, diabetes mellitus, hyperhomocystinemia, high levels of lipoprotein a (Lpa), and high blood levels of C-reactive protein. (Table 23.1). C-Reactive protein is a marker for cellular inflammation. 

Liver toxicity is a rare side effect of CBZ therapy (Trimble, 1990), although a recent study reported that 9% of children on CBZ had mildly elevated aspartate aminotransferase (Camfield and Camfield, 1985). Higher mean serum total cholesterol (TC) levels, mean low-density lipoprotein level, and mean TC/high-density lipoprotein ratio have been reported in children with epilepsy treated with CBZ, compared with controls (Sozuer et ah, 1997). Conversely, an increase in serum high-density lipoproteins was reported in a smaller sample of patients treated with CBZ, and was therefore interpreted as a possible protective factor against atherosclerosis (Yalcin et ah, 1997). 

In studies on radiation effects on cholesterol in meat [19] and egg powder [20], elevated levels of the same oxides were found that are known to result from autooxidation during storage of unirradiated foods. Vacuum packaging or addition... 

They are useful only in hyperlipoproteinemias involving elevated levels of LDL i.e. type Ila, lib and V. They are basic ion exchange resins. They are neither digested nor absorbed in the gut. They bind bile acids in intestine and interrupt their entero-hepatic circulation, leading to increased faecal excretion of bile salts and cholesterol. There is increased hepatic conversion of choles-terol to bile acids. More LDL receptors are expressed on liver cells leading to increased clearance of IDL, LDL and indirectly of VLDL. 

Steroids that aid in muscle development are called anabolic steroids. They are synthetic derivatives of testosterone, thus have the same muscle-building effect as testosterone. There are more than 100 different anabolic steroids which, vary in structure, duration of action, relative effects and toxicities. Androstenedione, stanozolol and dianabol are anabolic steroids. They are used to treat people suffering from traumas accompanied by muscle deterioration. The use of anabolic steroid can lead to a number of dangerous side-effects, including lowered levels of high density lipoprotein cholesterol, which benefits the heart, and elevated levels of harmful low density lipoprotein, stimulation of prostate tumours, clotting disorders and liver problems. 

Some medications may exert some effect on cholesterol biosynthesis and result in elevated concentrations of intermediate sterol levels. A known example is ingestion of haloperidol, which may result in elevated levels of 7-dehydrocholesterol [6]. 

In die peripheral blood system, crocetin derivatives prevent an elevation in bilirubin levels [3] and also reduce elevated levels of serum cholesterol and triglyceride [4]. Anti-tumor activity of saffron is observed in mice transplanted with several types of tumor cell lines including sarcoma 180, Ehrlich ascites carcinoma, and Dalton s lymphoma ascites... 

LDL and HDL The level of plasma cholesterol is not precisely regulated, but rather varies in response to the diet. Elevated levels result in an increased risk for cardiovascular disease (Figue 27.9). The risk increases progressively with higher values fa-serum total cholesterol. A much stronger correlation exists between the levels of blood LDL cholesterol and heart disease. In contrast, high levels of HDL cholesterol have been associated... 

Elevated levels of total cholesterol or LDL cholesterol result in increased risk for cardiovascular disease. In contrast, high levels of HDL cholesterol have been associated with a decreased risk for heart disease. 

Although elevated levels of cholesterol and LDL in human plasma are linked to an increased incidence of cardiovascular disease, recent data have shown that an increase in concentration of HDL in plasma is correlated with a lowered risk of coronary artery disease. Why does an elevated HDL level in plasma appear to protect against cardiovascular disease, whereas an elevated LDL level seems to cause this disease The answer to this question is not known. An explanation currently favored is that HDL functions in the removal of cholesterol from nonhepatic tissues and the return of cholesterol to the liver, where it is metabolized and secreted. The net effect would be a decrease in the amount of plasma cholesterol available for deposit in arteries (see... 

Considerable discussion has arisen in the lay press about cholesterol and its link to cardiovascular disease because of the correlation between elevated levels of cholesterol in the plasma and the incidence of heart disease. Experts generally agree that people who have total plasma cholesterol levels above 240 mg/dl (6.2 mmole/1) for many years are at increased risk of having a heart attack compared with people whose plasma cholesterol level is below 200 mg/dl (5.2 mmole/1). Because of this it is generally recommended that adults should endeavor to achieve levels of total cholesterol (including both free cholesterol and choles-teryl ester) in plasma of 200 mg/dl (5.2 mmole/1) or less. As discussed in the text, plasma cholesterol is largely carried in LDL as cholesteryl ester. The cholesteryl ester carried by LDL is sometimes referred to in the lay press as bad cholesterol. 

In Chapter 20, we discussed the health-threatening situation that often arises from excess cholesterol. In this regard, vegetable fats and oils are better for humans than animal fats because they contain no cholesterol and less of the saturated fatty acids that lead to elevated levels of blood cholesterol (see tables 4 and 5). 

The adverse effects of ritonavir comprise GI discomfort including abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, asthenia and neurological disturbances. Taste perversion, peripheral paresthesias and lipodystrophy including elevated levels of triglycerides and cholesterol have also been reported with its administration. 

The most common side effect associated with the use of nelfinavir is diarrhea other less frequent adverse effects include elevated triglycerides and cholesterol plasma levels, nausea, rash and hyperglycemia. 

The effects of wine and its polyphenol constituents on early indicators of coronary heart disease such as elevated levels of plasma lipids, platelets and serum antioxidant activity were discussed in a review by Cooper et al. (2004). This review also addressed whether the polyphenols or alcohol are responsible for the beneficial effects of wine on cardio-vascular health. The authors conclude that red wine polyphenols have little effect on plasma lipid concentrations, but that wine consumption reduces the susceptibility of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol to oxidation and increase serum antioxidant capacity. These effects, however, do depend on the amount of wine that is consumed and the period of supplementation. It was suggested that specific polyphenols appear to have endothelium-dependent vaso-relaxing abilities. Red wine phenolics also have an inhibitory effect on platelet aggregation. Evidence suggests that alcohol has a positive synergistic effect with wine polyphenols on some atherosclerosis risk factors. Thus, evidence that wine drinking is beneficial for cardiac health appears positive. 

The longer chained fatty acids, lauric, myristic, and palmitic acids are all cholesterol elevating fatty acids and it is possible that myrictic acid is the most cholesterol elevating fatty acid. Stearic acid is, however, different from the other longer chained fatty acids present in dairy fat since it may have neutral effects on cholesterol level (Katan et ah, 1994). The proportion of stearic acid in milk fat is about 11% (Lindmark-Mansson et ah, 2003). 

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