In addition to wanting to lower LDL, or bad, cholesterol it is of benefit to raise HDL, or good, cholesterol. As we age our cholesterol levels tend to change, and contribute to age-related diseases.
The guidelines for HDL cholesterol are greater than 39 mg/dL in men and greater than 49 mg/dL. Lower levels are considered a risk factor for cardiovascular disease.
However, a HDL cholesterol level of greater than 59 mg/dL is considered a negative risk factor for cardiovascular disease. In other words it reduces the risk for age-related diseases such as heart disease and stroke. High levels of good cholesterol have also been suggested to reduce the risk of dementia.
So, if your good cholesterol is too low, if you can get it higher, then the chances of having cardiovascular disease and other diseases of aging are significantly reduced.
Several studies have looked at the effects of taking high doses of niacin (vitamin B3, nicotinic acid) on the buildup of plaque in arteries in patients with low HDL.
In the most recent study, patients had already been diagnosed with heart disease and some were diabetic, and all were all already taking a LDL cholesterol-lowering statin. After one year HDL cholesterol levels had increased and the buildup of plaque in the arteries was less, in those patients that had been taking the niacin. This means that atherosclerosis was partially reversed.
This reinforces the fact that raising your good cholesterol can lower your risk of problems with age-related diseases such as heart disease and stroke.
If you think you could benefit from high dose niacin talk to your doctor. High doses of niacin can have side effects and worsen some conditions. Do NOT go to the health food store and get no flush niacin or flush-free niacin. These very slow release forms have been suggested to damage the liver.
Other ways to raise good cholesterol levels include the usual suspects, exercise, weight loss, adding fiber to diet, stopping smoking etc. Most foods contain niacin (and tryptophan which the body can make into niacin), but no foods have very high levels.
Raising your good cholesterol can significantly reduce your risk of health problems from age-related disease , and may even reverse the progression of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease.
