Cholesterol and How Menopause Impacts It

First I want to chat about cholesterol and how a basic cholesterol panel may not show the whole picture. Also, menopause can negatively impact cholesterol levels. I often see women who tell me they’ve never had cholesterol issues before now having issues. This increases their cardiovascular risk.

Remember that not all cholesterol is bad. Your liver and intestines make about 80% of the cholesterol you need to stay healthy. Only about 20% comes from the foods you eat. ⁣

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𝗖𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗼𝗹 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝗿⁣:

  • Pregnenolone ⁣

  • Progesterone ⁣

  • Cortisol⁣

  • Androgens⁣

  • Oestrogens⁣

  • Vitamin D⁣

  • Vitamin K2⁣

  • Coenzyme Q10 ⁣

  • Bile salts ⁣

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𝗗𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗼𝗹 𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝘆 𝗻𝗲𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗵𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱⁣:

  • Increase the risk of diabetes mellitus 2⁣

  • Increase the risk of Alzheimer’s Disease⁣

  • Increase the risk of neuropathy⁣

  • Cause myalgia and atrophy⁣

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𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗶𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗟𝗗𝗟 𝘀𝗶𝘇𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘄 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿! 𝗔 𝗯𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗰 𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗼𝗹 𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗲𝗹 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗯𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸 𝗶𝘁 𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻.⁣

  • Small density LDL (pattern B)→higher risk

  • Intermediate density LDL (pattern I)⁣

  • Large, buoyant LDL (pattern A)→lower risk⁣

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𝗔𝗻𝗱, 𝗱𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼𝘅𝗶𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝘃𝘆 𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘆 𝗮 𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝘀 𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗹! ⁣

  • Increase LDL and TG, decrease HDL, and induce dysfunctional HDL⁣

  • Increase CVD, hypertension, atherosclerosis⁣

  • Reduce total antioxidant capacity⁣

  • Act as mitochondrial toxins⁣

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𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗹𝗮𝗺𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝗵𝘂𝗴𝗲 𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗲 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝗻 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘀𝗰𝘂𝗹𝗮𝗿 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲. 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀𝘀:

  • High-sensitivity CRP major marker of inflammation⁣

  • The higher the inflammation, the more permeable the endothelium⁣

  • Associated with higher risk⁣

  • Considered a “risk enhancing factor” (AHA/ACC guidelines)⁣

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𝗨𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗹𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗹𝗮𝗺𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻⁣

  • Poor dietary choices⁣

  • Lack of exercise⁣

  • Visceral fat⁣

  • Chronic infections/dysbiosis (esp. oral and gut)⁣

  • Toxins, such as persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and heavy metals⁣

  • Poor sleep⁣

Now, let’s chat about how menopause can impact cholesterolEstrogen, progesterone and testosterone help relax and dilate blood vessels, reduce inflammation and improve lipid (cholesterol) levels.

What you may see:

  • LDL and triglycerides increase. High-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol may decrease. HDL helps remove excess cholesterol from the bloodstream.

  • When looking at how to help think of root cause and take a multifunctional approach. Diet, exercise and key supplements may be helpful here. I also love using hormones in women who are candidates.

PMID: 37719547

DOI: 10.1056/NEJM199906103402306

Tara Woodland