Category Archives: HDL

Low Carbohydrate Diets: No Energy Restriction Required

Posted on April 16, 2013 by Robert Barrington

The general consensus amongst mainstream medicine is that weight loss is only possible through forced energy restriction. The proponents of such diets also sometimes suggest the use of forced physical activity to further increase the energy deficit. However, even in … Continue reading →

Posted in Adiponectin, C-Reactive Protein, Carbohydrate, HDL, Inflammation, Ketogenic Diets, Mediterranean Diet, Metabolic Syndrome, Protein, Triglycerides / Triacylglycerols, Weight Loss | Tagged , | Comments Off on Low Carbohydrate Diets: No Energy Restriction Required

Sterols as Drugs: Reviving the Zombie Cholesterol Theory

Posted on April 12, 2013 by Robert Barrington

Sterols are plant lipids that have similar structures to the animal lipid cholesterol. Examples of sterols common to the human diet include β-sitosterol, campesterol and stigmasterol present in foods such as cereals, nuts and legumes. Because of their similar structure, … Continue reading →

Posted in Cardiovascular Disease, Carotenoids, Cholesterol, HDL, LDL, Sterols and Stanols, Vitamin E | Comments Off on Sterols as Drugs: Reviving the Zombie Cholesterol Theory

Plasma Lipoproteins: A Primer

Posted on March 25, 2013 by Robert Barrington

Elevated levels of certain plasma lipoproteins are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Measurements of the levels of these lipoproteins are considered reliable biomarkers for assessing cardiovascular risk by the mainstream medical establishment. However, the nutritional biochemistry of … Continue reading →

Posted in Cholesterol, Chylomicrons, Fatty Acids, HDL, IDL, LDL, Triglycerides / Triacylglycerols, VLDL | Comments Off on Plasma Lipoproteins: A Primer

Total Cholesterol: Pointless Biomarker?

Posted on March 24, 2013 by Robert Barrington

The diet heart hypothesis states that dietary cholesterol is the cause of elevated plasma cholesterol and this in turn causes cardiovascular disease. Over the last two decades the nutritional sciences have demolished this theory which can no longer be regarded … Continue reading →

Posted in Cardiovascular Disease, Cholesterol, HDL, IDL, LDL, VLDL | Comments Off on Total Cholesterol: Pointless Biomarker?

Legumes Lower Plasma Cholesterol: More Data

Posted on March 20, 2013 by Robert Barrington

Elevated plasma levels of very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) and the small dense sub-fraction of low density lipoprotein (LDL) are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Dietary legumes from the Fabinaceae family of plants have been extensively investigated … Continue reading →

Posted in Beans, Cardiovascular Disease, Cholesterol, HDL, LDL, Pulses / Legumes, VLDL | Comments Off on Legumes Lower Plasma Cholesterol: More Data

Beans and Oats: Cholesterol Lowering Master Class

Posted on March 17, 2013 by Robert Barrington

The statins are a group of drugs that inhibit the rate limiting enzyme (HMG-CoA reductase) in the cholesterol synthesis pathway in humans. The medical establishment claims that statins are effective at lowering elevated plasma lipoprotein levels, particularly low density lipoprotein, … Continue reading →

Posted in Beans, Cardiovascular Disease, Cholesterol, Fibre, HDL, IDL, LDL, Lipoprotein(a), Oats (Avena sativa), VLDL | Comments Off on Beans and Oats: Cholesterol Lowering Master Class

Alpha Linolenic Acid: Is it Beneficial to the Heart?

Posted on March 13, 2013 by Robert Barrington

The essential fatty acid α-linolenic acid (ALA, C18:3 (n-3)) is required for human health because it enters the metabolic pathway that synthesises hormones required to regulate cellular inflammation and immunity. Flaxseeds and walnuts are good sources of ALA but smaller … Continue reading →

Posted in Alpha Linolenic Acid, Cardiovascular Disease, Docosahexaenoic Acid, Docosanoids, Eicosanoids, Eicosapentaenoic Acid, Essential Fatty Acids, Flax Oil, HDL, LDL, VLDL | Comments Off on Alpha Linolenic Acid: Is it Beneficial to the Heart?

Flaxseeds: Problem Solved?

Posted on March 5, 2013 by Robert Barrington

Alpha linolenic acid (ALA, C18:3 (n-3)) is an essential fatty acid (EFA) required to form a number of important short-lived anti-inflammatory compounds in humans. Theoretically, ALA can be elongated and desaturated to eicosapentanoic acid (EPA, C20:5 (n-3)) and docosahexanoic acid … Continue reading →

Posted in Alpha Linolenic Acid, Cardiovascular Disease, Docosahexaenoic Acid, Eggs, Eicosapentaenoic Acid, Essential Fatty Acids, HDL, Heart Disease, Inflammation | Comments Off on Flaxseeds: Problem Solved?

Vitamin E: Absorption and Transport

Posted on March 1, 2013 by Robert Barrington

Vitamin E consists of 8 isomers that share the same biological activity as α-tocopherol. The isomers are α-, β-, γ- and δ-tocopherol and α-, β-, γ- and δ-tocotrienol. The isomers possess slightly different biological activities in humans. For example, γ-tocopherol … Continue reading →

Posted in Cholesterol, HDL, LDL, Tocopherols, Tocotrienols, Vitamin E, VLDL | Comments Off on Vitamin E: Absorption and Transport

HDL and Epigenetics

Posted on February 20, 2013 by Robert Barrington

The ratio of low density lipoprotein (LDL) to high density lipoprotein (HDL) is predictive of cardiovascular risk. Generally, a high LDL to HDL ratio is associated with an increase risk of cardiovascular disease. High density lipoprotein levels below <40 mg/dL … Continue reading →

Posted in Carbohydrate, Cardiovascular Disease, Epigenetics, HDL, LDL | Comments Off on HDL and Epigenetics