Hello everyone,
I’m Yoko Maeda, the lead doctor at Bianca Clinic for Cosmetic Internal Medicine. Today, I will be answering one of the questions I received on Instagram!
The question is: “There’s good cholesterol and bad cholesterol, but is bad cholesterol really bad?”
Cholesterol is a type of lipid stored in our bodies.
The term “bad” cholesterol does give a negative impression, but cholesterol itself is essential for our bodies.
What is Bad Cholesterol?
There are two types of cholesterol: HDL cholesterol and LDL cholesterol. HDL cholesterol is known as “good” cholesterol, while LDL cholesterol is referred to as “bad” cholesterol.
The Role of Cholesterol
- HDL cholesterol (good): collects excess cholesterol.
- LDL cholesterol (bad): transports cholesterol produced in the liver throughout the body.
Cholesterol is a necessary substance for creating hormones and cell membranes. LDL cholesterol’s role is to transport cholesterol made in the liver to the parts of the body that need it.
Although LDL cholesterol is often labeled as the villain, it is not inherently harmful.
The reason LDL cholesterol is called “bad” is that when it becomes too abundant, it can lead to atherosclerosis, which may cause heart attacks or strokes. On the other hand, HDL cholesterol, which helps prevent atherosclerosis, is called “good” cholesterol.
However, some people still suffer from heart attacks even with low levels of LDL cholesterol, so having high LDL cholesterol does not always equate to danger. Recent research suggests that the quality of LDL cholesterol, not just the quantity, also matters.
What You Should Really Be Concerned About: Oxidized LDL Cholesterol
The real culprit behind atherosclerosis is said to be oxidized LDL cholesterol, not LDL cholesterol itself. Oxidized LDL cholesterol is LDL cholesterol that has undergone oxidative modification due to oxidative stress.
Most cholesterol is produced within the body and cannot be broken down inside it. Oxidized LDL cholesterol tends to clump together and stick to blood vessels. When the body recognizes oxidized LDL cholesterol as a foreign substance, macrophages, a type of white blood cell, emerge to eliminate it. However, when there is too much oxidized LDL cholesterol, the macrophages may rupture. The remnants of these ruptured macrophages can further narrow blood vessels, increasing the risk of atherosclerosis.
This is why oxidized LDL cholesterol is considered “bad.”
How to Prevent the Oxidation of LDL Cholesterol
To prevent LDL cholesterol from becoming harmful, it is crucial to prevent oxidation. Here are some nutrients known for their antioxidant effects:
- Vitamin C
- Coenzyme Q10
- Beta-carotene
Since vitamin C is water-soluble and heat-sensitive, it’s best to consume it raw when possible.
Incorporating these nutrients into your diet can help prevent the oxidation of LDL cholesterol. If it’s difficult to get enough from food alone, supplements can also be beneficial.
In addition to a balanced diet, maintaining a healthy lifestyle with regular exercise and adequate sleep is essential. Smoking, in particular, produces a large amount of reactive oxygen species, which can cause LDL cholesterol to oxidize. Smoking also contains components that destroy vitamins, so quitting smoking is advisable to reduce these risks.
Taking care of your health is a key element of anti-aging care. I can recommend supplements and other approaches from a cosmetic internal medicine perspective, so feel free to come in for a consultation!