Cholesterol

My boyfriend has done blood work 3 times for about 8 months and every time very high levels of cholesterol comes back. The doctor just say to eat better. I have heard of medicine or supplements that can help. The doctor just sees the report and in 1 minute he is out of the room with just saying to eat better. Does anyone know any supplements or recommendations?

9 comments · 75% upvoted · other discussions

comments

shanked5iron

“Eat better” for cholesterol specifically means eating a diet low in saturated fat (from all
Sources) and high in soluble fiber.

Meds used to treat it are statins and pcsk9 inhibitors.

kboom100

How old is your boyfriend and what is his cholesterol panel numbers especially his ldl? Does he have a family history of heart disease or very high ldl and if so which of his family members and at what age did they develop it?

What country are you in?

ChismeTime7 [OP]

He is 44

kboom100

What about his cholesterol numbers, especially his LDL? And does he have a family history of heart disease or very high ldl?

JLEroll

Did you find out what the deal was with his wedding band?

mgftp

if you want some help and opinions i think providing numbers around high levels of cholesterol may be beneficial

alltheabove48

If a doctor is saying “eat better” then they’re basically saying his cholesterol levels are manageable without medication, and focusing on dietary changes. Seeking the help of a registered dietician to help with food/meal ideas may be a better option than going straight to statins.

SuperMarioTx

Not always the case. My doctor said the same for years due to my fitness until i got a lipoprotein test and heart scan that showed calcium. Boyfriend needs to partner with doctor and ask for additional testing.

Powerful-Action-5916

I can understand your frustration. Three blood tests over eight months showing very high cholesterol, and being told simply to “eat better”, isn’t particularly helpful if nobody explains what that means.

For cholesterol, it’s worth looking specifically at saturated fat rather than just whether a diet seems healthy overall. Butter, cheese, cream, fatty meats and some processed foods can add up surprisingly quickly. Replacing some of those with unsaturated fats, and increasing soluble fibre from oats, beans, lentils and similar foods, can help lower LDL.

But there’s another important point: if his cholesterol has remained very high across three tests, I’d want to know his actual LDL result. Sometimes genetics play a substantial role, and dietary changes alone may not be enough.

There are effective prescription treatments, including statins, and it’s reasonable to ask his doctor whether medication or a referral for further assessment should be considered. I wouldn’t rely on supplements as the main approach, especially without knowing his numbers.

Do you happen to have his LDL number from the latest test, and has he already made any dietary changes over those eight months?