LDL interventions

Medical Q&A [Moderated]
1

Hey Docs,

I recently had some blood testing done (for fertility testing) and my only abnormality was my LDL and triglycerides were slightly above the accepted range (everything else was tip top but I do have a family history of familial hyperlipidemia).

Based on your suggestions, I have increased my fibre to 35g/day and reduced my saturated fat intake (mostly by switching the majority of my meat intake from red meat to chicken and removing most of the tasty, tasty cheese from my diet).

My question(s) is: is this enough to make changes, and roughly how long should I run with these changes until I get tested again? I was thinking 3 months or so.

Thanks.

2

Blocky,

Thanks for the post and props to you for making some changes already!

I would also make sure body fat levels aren’t contributing. A few signs that might sway me to recommend a calorie deficit:

  1. BMI > 35
  2. Waist circumference > 37" (unless of Asian heritage)
  3. Body fat (DEXA or hydrostatic weighing) > 20%

If you pass all of those, then the changes you made seem reasonable. I think that a 6 month testing interval is also reasonable.

3

Thanks Doc,

BMI is currently 30ish
Waist size is 38
I’m already in a calorie deficit: I have lost 7kg over the last 2 months and still dropping (from 104 to 97kg).

1 further question, if I may… is there a way to decrease the amount of gas I’m getting from the higher fibre diet? It’s disconcerting.

4

That’s good! Looks like a little bit more to go.

Typically any change in diet can increase the amount of gas you have. I would give it a bit longer and if it persists a few months, perhaps consider other dietary changes.

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