Lipids and Nutraceuticals September 2024
Laurence Eyres
NZIFST conference
There is going to be a session on avocado oil at the conference in Palmerston North next year.
Remnant Cholesterol what is it?
Research has consistently shown a correlation between conventional lipid parameters, arteriosclerosis, and cardiovascular diseases. Guidelines highlight the importance of targeting low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) for primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular diseases, with reducing LDL-C being still the primary lipid-lowering strategy. However, even when LDL-C is lowered to optimal levels, there is a residual risk of cardiovascular disease. Recent findings have brought attention to remnant cholesterol (RC) as a significant factor contributing to this residual risk. The close association between RC, arteriosclerosis, and cardiovascular diseases presents exciting opportunities for lifestyle interventions and medical treatments to control and lower RC levels, offering new targets for preventing and managing related cardiovascular conditions. Remnant cholesterol is what’s left after accounting for HDL and LDL.
The USA advise total cholesterol below 200 mg/dl and LDL below 100 mg/dl. To convert mmol/l (NZ) to mg/dl (USA) we multiply by 38.66. To convert mg/dl (USA) to mmol/l (NZ) we divide by 38.66. Hence 200 mg/dl equates to 5.17 mmol/l and 100 mg/dl equates to 2.58 mmol/Australia favours total cholesterol below 5.5 mmol/l (213 mg/dl). Do you know your lipid analyses? It pays to.
Cholesterol is not the only lipid involved in trans-fat-driven cardiovascular disease.
Salk scientists trace fat processing in mice, finding specific dietary fats are incorporated into sphingolipids to drive the development of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.
Excess cholesterol is known to form artery-clogging plaques that can lead to stroke, arterial disease, heart attack, and more, making it the focus of many heart health campaigns. Fortunately, this attention to cholesterol has prompted the development of cholesterol-lowering drugs called statins and lifestyle interventions like dietary and exercise regimens. But what if there’s more to the picture than just cholesterol?
New research from Salk Institute scientists describes how another class of lipids, called sphingolipids, contributes to arterial plaques and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). Using a longitudinal study of mice fed high-fat diets—with no additional cholesterol—the team tracked how these fats flow through the body and found the progression of ASCVD induced by high trans fats was fuelled by the incorporation of trans fats into ceramides and other sphingolipids. Knowing that sphingolipids promote atherosclerotic plaque formation reveals another side of cardiovascular disease in addition to cholesterol. A study , published in Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine and involving 2,048 adults who had no heart disease at the start of the study, found that every 1 mg/dL increase in remnant cholesterol corresponded with a 7.8% higher risk of a heart attack, stroke, or heart-related death over a 10-year period.
GOED news
Breaking news about effects of omega-3 on ageing and other ailments.
LDL cholesterol and oxidised lipids
Human diets contain both cholesterol and oxidised cholesterol (OxC). Cholesterol is susceptible to oxidation, forming a series of cholesterol oxidation products (COP) under various food processing conditions. The amount of COP can reach up to 10 % total cholesterol (TC) in foods particularly in Western countries where total fat intake is high and fried foods are popular. More than thirty COP have been identified and reported the major COP include 7β-hydroxycholesterol, 7α-hydroxycholesterol, 5α-hydroxycholesterol, 7-ketocholesterol and α-epoxides.
Guidelines highlight the importance of targeting low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) for primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular diseases, with reducing LDL-C remaining the primary lipid-lowering strategy. However, even when LDL-C is lowered to optimal levels, there is a residual risk of cardiovascular disease. Recent findings have brought attention to remnant cholesterol (RC) as a significant factor contributing to this residual risk. The close association between RC, arteriosclerosis, and cardiovascular diseases presents exciting opportunities for lifestyle interventions and medical treatments to control and lower RC levels.
Measurement of LDL
When you get your cholesterol levels measured at the lab. Then an LDL reading >1.8 indicates potential risk problems and medical advice should be sought. This normally involves taking statins.
Anti-inflammatory medicines and pain
From a personal point of view, pain management is so important as we get older. Sadly, the most potent of the effective painkillers such as diclofenac (Voltaren and Celebrex etc.) cause liver damage if taken over a prolonged period. It always pays to review with your doctor the risks and benefits of taken any medication. Omega-3 does partly alleviate the pain but not completely. Ethanol works but unfortunately also has major side effects. Perhaps its worth experimenting with turmeric and curcumin.
Olive oil shortages and replacements
Europe has seen a major shortage of decent quality olive oil due to crop failures and the weird weather. As far as I am aware Australasia has not seen such shortages. If not olive oil (decent quality) what else should you take? Options are avocado oil, hazelnut oil and canola (NZ).
Interesting YouTube video. Thanks to Geoff Webster
www.youtube.com/watch?v=BiKGydHNjGc
High quality boutique oils
Over the last 20 years New Zealand has seen the emergence of some niche boutique oils. Examples of these virgin oils are flaxseed oil, hemp seed oil, walnut oil, hazelnut oil, and locally grown canola oil. Many of these oils come from NZ South Island crops and are produced locally. They tend to be higher priced than imported oils but at least they are fresh and not fraudulent.