Cardiovascular disease: a closer look at cholesterol

Every 12 minutes one Australian dies as a result of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Practitioners, and the general public, must develop a better understanding of what science is now revealing as key aetiologies for the development of this illness. This is not just a disease of high cholesterol and elevated blood pressure (BP). Atherosclerosis progression is now recognised to be influenced by factors including (but not limited to) nutritional deficiencies, systemic inflammation, oxidative stress, a dysbiotic gut, immune dysfunction (including autoimmune-type processes) and infections, together with the well known dietary and lifestyle issues.

A more advanced lipid profile may be an ideal approach to better determine the targets for disease treatment/prevention. Further to the standard measurements of triglycerides (TGs), high density lipoproteins (HDLs), low density lipoproteins (LDLs) and total cholesterol, other markers such as lipoprotein sub-fractions, apolipoproteins (Apo), C-reactive protein (CRP), fibrinogen, homocysteine and glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c) can be investigated. Complementary interventions which are proving successful in managing certain aspects of CVD include CoQ10/ubiquinol, fish oil, tocotrienols and tocopherols, resveratrol, curcumin and quercetin.

In this infographic we take a closer look at cholesterol and lipoprotein sub-fractions and research which supports the use of omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin E (mixed tocopherols and tocotrienols) in cardiovascular disease management.

References

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