What You Need To Know About Low-Carb Diets and Cholesterol | Dr. Robert Lustig Ultimate Guide

Levels Advisor Robert Lustig, MD, explains how low-carb diets may affect cholesterol.

Low-carb diets, including the ketogenic diet, reduce carbohydrate intake while increasing fat intake. These diets may elevate your low-density lipoprotein (LDL), so-called “bad” cholesterol, on your metabolic panel.

However, dietary fat only raises large buoyant LDL (lbLDL), which doesn’t have an effect on your cardiovascular health. “On the lab slip,” Lustig says, “it looks like the bad guy because of these reference ranges that make no sense.”

What is the bad guy? Small dense LDL (sdLDL) particles can lead to atherosclerosis.

Lustig’s point is that it’s not the total LDL that’s concerning, it’s high sdLDL. However, doctors typically test for total LDL.

If you have a high LDL level, you might be prescribed a statin. “But ultimately, the goal is to get the small dense LDL down, and statins don’t touch those,” Lustig explains.

About 20% of people who take statins end up with rhabdomyolysis (muscle inflammation), or they develop hyperglycemia (high blood sugar), or even diabetes.

✅ What you can do: One test that can give you a better indication of your sdLDL level is apolipoprotein B (ApoB).

#metabolichealth #cholesterol #lowcarb #keto

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[raginaldmars]

.. as a German Bio Chemist Ph D
we have the GULAG Diet
Low Carb
Low “meat”
slowly starving
When you are released
for good compliance
you are almost
healthy

[sallymorgan]

My UCSF cardio wants me to quit keto and start Crestor. I lost 30 pounds on keto in 4 months and my BMI is now 22. I also have Hashi Thyroiditis. Unfortunately my LDL climbed into the 300s. My calcium score is high but echo and nuclear stress test normal. I don't know what to do.

[dahdah]

In this video clip Lustig mentions that “the goal is get the small dense LDL down and statins don’t touch those.”
I don’t see a citation on how this is known, can you provide the source of how this is known?

[leahabbott]

Where can I find the full interview this clip comes from?

[PudgyCurmudgeon]

Statins are not about health they are about money. The damage that they cause leads to the making of more money!