Table Of Content

Abstract

With the evolution of modern culture there has been a radical change in the lifestyle of the people.
With this change in lifestyle knew food trends have emerged in the recent years.

Nowadays majority of people prefer fast food over home cooked meals this could be because of a
busy lifestyle all personal preference, this has let a degrading health and fitness criteria.

In this report we will learn about cholesterol, its types its function and how modern food trends has
increased the risk of cardiovascular diseases due to high cholesterol and we will also discuss some
methods which can be used to reduce such risks.

Introduction

Presence of high cholesterol in the blood is the main reason that cause a cardiovascular disease.

What is cholesterol?

Cholesterol belongs to a category of organic molecules called lipids. Cholesterol is produced by all
animal cells and is an essential structural component Of animals cell membrane. It helps our body
build new cells, insulate nerves, and produce hormones.

Normally, the liver makes all the cholesterol the body needs, but, it may also enter our body via food
suggests animal based foods like milk eggs and meat.

Lipids:

Fats and lipids are an essential component of the homeostatic function of the human body.
Lipids contribute to some of the body’s most vital processes.

Lipids are fatty, waxy, or oily compounds that are soluble in organic solvents and insoluble in
polar solvents such as water. Lipids include:

 Fats and oils (triglycerides)

 Phospholipids

 Waxes

 Steroids

 Lipids are an essential component of the cell membrane. The structure is typically
made of a glycerol backbone, 2 fatty acid tails (hydrophobic), and a phosphate group
(hydrophilic). As such, phospholipids are amphipathic. In the cell membrane,
phospholipids are arranged in a bilayer manner, providing cell protection and serving
as a barrier to certain molecules.
 The hydrophilic part faces outward and the hydrophobic part faces inward. This
arrangement helps monitor which molecules can enter and exit the cell. For
example, nonpolar molecules and small polar molecules, such as oxygen and water,
can easily diffuse in and out of the cell. Large, polar molecules, for example, glucose,
cannot pass freely so they need the help of transport proteins.
  Another type of lipid is wax. Waxes are esters made of long-chain alcohol and a fatty
acid. They provide protection, especially to plants in which wax covers the leaves of
plants. In humans, cerumen, also known as earwax, helps protect the skin of the ear
canal.
 A further class includes steroids, which have a structure of 4 fused rings. One
important type of steroid is cholesterol. Cholesterol is produced in the liver and is
the forerunner to many other steroid hormones, such as estrogen, testosterone, and
cortisol. It is also a part of cell membranes, inserting itself into the bilayer and
influencing the membrane’s fluidity.

Function of Cholesterol :

Cholesterol is a sterol synthesized by animal cells and is also a component of the diet, being
present in food of animal origin. Its main function is to maintain the integrity and fluidity of
cell membranes and to serve as a precursor for the synthesis of substances that are vital for
the organism including steroid hormones, bile acids, and vitamin D.

Types of Cholesterol:

There are two main types of cholesterol: low-density lipoprotein (LDL), or "bad"
cholesterol, and high-density lipoprotein (HDL), or "good" cholesterol.

They are a combination of fat (lipid) and protein. The lipids need to be attached to the proteins so
they can move through the blood. LDL and HDL have different purposes:

 LDL stands for low-density lipoproteins. It is sometimes called the "bad" cholesterol because a
high LDL level leads to a build up of cholesterol in your arteries.
 HDL stands for high-density lipoproteins. It is sometimes called the "good" cholesterol because it
carries cholesterol from other parts of your body back to your liver. Your liver then removes the
cholesterol from your body.

What are cardiovascular diseases (CVDS) ?

Cardiovascular diseases are the diseases that are related with heart and blood vessels.

1. Coronary heart disease

2. Rheumatic heart disease
3. Congenital heart disease
4. Deep vein thrombosis & pulmonary embolism

Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death globally. An estimated 17.9 million people
died from CVDs in the year 2019.

How can a high LDL level raise our risk of coronary artery disease and other
diseases?

If you have a high LDL level, this means that you have too much LDL cholesterol in your blood.
This extra LDL, along with other substances, forms plaque. The plaque builds up in your arteries;
this is a condition called atherosclerosis.
Coronary artery disease happens when the plaque buildup is in the arteries of your heart. It
causes the arteries to become hardened and narrowed, which slows down or blocks the blood
flow to your heart. Since your blood carries oxygen to your heart, this means that your heart may
not be able to get enough oxygen. This can cause angina (chest pain), or if the blood flow is
completely blocked, a heart attack.
How do I know what my LDL level is?
A blood test can measure your cholesterol levels, including LDL. When and how often you should
get this test depends on your age, risk factors, and family history. The general recommendations
are:
For people who are age 19 or younger::
 The first test should be between ages 9 to 11
 Children should have the test again every 5 years
 Some children may have this test starting at age 2 if there is a family history of high blood
cholesterol, heart attack, or stroke
For people who are age 20 or older::
 Younger adults should have the test every 5 years
 Men ages 45 to 65 and women ages 55 to 65 should have it every 1 to 2 years
What can affect my LDL level?
Things that can affect your LDL level include:

 Diet. Saturated fat and cholesterol in the food you eat make your blood cholesterol level rise
 Weight. Being overweight tends to raise your LDL level, lower your HDL level, and increase
your total cholesterol level
 Physical Activity. A lack of physical activity can lead to weight gain, which can raise your LDL
level
 Smoking. Cigarette smoking lowers your HDL cholesterol. Since HDL helps to remove LDL
from your arteries, if you have less HDL, that can contribute to you having a higher LDL level.
 Age and Sex. As women and men get older, their cholesterol levels rise. Before the age of
menopause, women have lower total cholesterol levels than men of the same age. After the age of
menopause, women's LDL levels tend to rise.
 Genetics. Your genes partly determine how much cholesterol your body makes. High cholesterol
can run in families. For example, familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is an inherited form of high
blood cholesterol.
 Medicines. Certain medicines, including steroids, some blood pressure medicines, and HIV/AIDS
medicines, can raise your LDL level.
 Other medical conditions. Diseases such as chronic kidney disease, diabetes, and HIV/AIDS can
cause a higher LDL level.
 Race. Certain races may have an increased risk of high blood cholesterol. For example, African
Americans typically have higher HDL and LDL cholesterol levels than whites.

What should our LDL level be?

With LDL cholesterol, lower numbers are better, because a high LDL level can raise your risk for
coronary artery disease and related problems:
 LDL (Bad) Cholesterol Level LDL Cholesterol Category

Less than 100mg/dL Optimal

100-129mg/dL Near optimal/above optimal

130-159 mg/dL Borderline high

160-189 mg/dL High

190 mg/dL and above Very High

HDL (good) cholesterol

HDL cholesterol can be thought of as the “good” cholesterol because a healthy level may protect against
heart attack and stroke.

HDL carries LDL (bad) cholesterol away from the arteries and back to the liver, where the LDL is broken
down and passed from the body. But HDL cholesterol doesn't completely eliminate LDL cholesterol. Only
one-third to one-fourth of blood cholesterol is carried by HDL.

Causes of High Cholesterol:

High cholesterol is a condition in which you have too many lipids (fats)
in your blood. It’s also called hyperlipidemia or hypercholesterolemia.

Your body needs just the right amount of lipids to function. If you have
too many lipids, your body can’t use them all. The extra lipids start to
build up in your arteries. 8

There are many causes for High cholesterol but are mostly due to life
style choices some of the reasons are as follows:

 Diet: Some foods may raise or lower your cholesterol. Sometimes

healthcare providers will recommend dietary changes or a visit
with a nutritionist to discuss your diet.
 Smoking and tobacco use: Smoking lowers your “good
cholesterol” (HDL) and raises your “bad cholesterol” (LDL).
 Being under a lot of stress: Stress triggers hormonal changes
that cause your body to produce cholesterol.
 Drinking alcohol: Too much alcohol in your body can raise your
total cholesterol.
 Not moving around enough: Physical activity like aerobic
exercise improves your cholesterol numbers. If you have a desk
job or sit a lot in your free time, your body won’t produce enough
“good cholesterol.”
 Diet: Some foods may raise or lower your cholesterol. Sometimes
healthcare providers will recommend dietary changes or a visit
with a nutritionist to discuss your diet.
Case Study and research :

This case report is of 40-year-old man diagnosed to have hypertriglyceridemia who

attended for routine screening in our diagnostic laboratory at Barasat. He was
nonsmoker, non-alcoholic, had a reasonable diet with abundant fruits and
vegetables, and was on regular exercise. He was not taking any lipid lowering
medications. He hailed from Barasat, and was employed in Government sector in
Barasat and policeman by profession. His father died at the age of 57 years in a heart
attack; but his mother is healthy and now almost 62 years of age, and he has two
brothers one elder and another younger to him, both are healthy. His blood pressure
was normal, his body-mass index was 27, and his waist circumference was 96 cm and
hip circumference was 103. His waist/hip ratio was 0.932. The Biochemical analyses
were as follows- Fasting Glucose: 186 mg/dL, Total Cholesterol: 90 mg/dL,
Triglycerides: 372 mg/dL, High-density cholesterol: 3.80 mg/dL, Low-density
cholesterol: 2.90 mg/dL, VLDL: 83.20 mg/dL, Cholesterol/HDL-C ratio: 23.6:1, LDL-
C/HDL-C: 0.07:1. This study revealed the increased prevalence of dyslipidemia to be
more prevalent in 31-40 year males, suggesting that this group is at an increased risk
of developing CAD leading to young infarcts. Combination lifestyle therapies i.e.,
enhanced physical activity and dietary modification and therapeutic intervention
would help us in the treatment and management of dyslipidemia.

In conclusion, this study revealed the increased prevalence of dyslipidemia to be

more prevalent in 31-40 year males, suggesting that this group is at increased risk of
developing CAD leading to young infarcts. Combination lifestyle therapies i.e.,
enhanced physical activity and dietary modification and therapeutic intervention
would help us in treatment and management of dyslipidemia.
Cholesterol levels and development of cardiovascular disease in Koreans with type 2
diabetes mellitus and without pre-existing cardiovascular disease

The aim of the present study was to identify a threshold for the cholesterol
level at which the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) begins to increase in
people with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM).

Methods

Using the Korean National Health Insurance Service database, 2,077,135

people aged ≥ 40 years with type 2 DM who underwent regular health
checks between 2009 and 2012 were included. Subjects with previous CVD
were excluded. Cox regression analyses were performed to estimate the risk
of CVD for each low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) group using
the < 70 mg/dL as the reference group.

Results
There were 78,560 cases of stroke (3.91%), and 50,791 myocardial
infarction (MI, 2.53%) during a median follow-up of 7.1 years. Among
participants not taking statins, LDL-C levels of 130–159 mg/dL and ≥
160 mg/dL were significantly associated with the risk of MI: the hazard
ratios (HRs) (95% confidence interval) were 1.19 (1.14–1.25) and 1.53
(1.46–1.62), respectively. Among participants taking statins, all categories
of LDL-C level ≥ 70 mg/dL were significantly associated with increased risk
of stroke and MI.

Observation and findings : We identified an increased risk of CVD in people

with an LDL-C level ≥ 130 mg/dL among individuals with type 2 DM not
taking statins. The risk of CVD was significantly higher in those taking
statins with an LDL-C level ≥ 70 mg/dL.
Ways to Reduce Cholesterol
As we have learned so far high cholesterol increases the risk of heart attack
and other cardiovascular diseases. Medication can help reduce cholesterol
effort but few changes in our lifestyle can produce drastic changes in
cholesterol levels present in our body. Few of the methods to do so are
mentioned as follows.