Carbs may explain ethnic variations in cholesterol

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Ethnic differences in levels of HDL, the "good" cholesterol, may be due, at least in part, to diet, a new study from Canada suggests.
South Asians ate the most carbohydrate and had the lowest HDL cholesterol levels, while Chinese individuals ate the least carbohydrate and had the highest levels of the beneficial blood fat, Dr. Anwar T. Merchant of the Population Health Research Institute in Hamilton, Ontario and colleagues found.
Previous research has identified ethnic differences in cholesterol and other blood fat levels that couldn't be explained by genes, obesity, lifestyle factors or diet, Merchant and his team note, but these analyses usually looked at dietary fat, not carbohydrate consumption. When calories from carbohydrates replace energy from fat in a person's diet, both LDL and HDL cholesterol levels fall while triacylglycerol levels rise, the researchers explain.
To investigate the role of carbohydrate and HDL levels in a population containing a variety of ethnic groups, Merchant and his colleagues analyzed the diet and blood fats of 619 Canadians of Native American, South Asian, Chinese and European descent. The researchers report their findings in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
As mentioned, South Asians ate the most carbohydrates, followed by Europeans, Native Americans, and Chinese. After adjustment for several factors including age, ethnicity, body mass index and alcohol intake, the association between carbohydrates and lower HDL cholesterol remained, with people consuming the most carbs having an average level of 1.08 mmol/L, compared to 1.21 mmol/L for those who ate the fewest carbohydrates.
Each additional 100 gram per day of carbohydrates was tied to a 0.15 mmol/L drop in HDL cholesterol. Triacylglycerol levels also rose in tandem with carbohydrate intake.
The researchers also found that consuming more sugar-sweetened soft drinks, juices and snacks was tied to a lower HDL level.
"Differences in HDL and triacylglycerols observed in different ethnic groups may be due in part to carbohydrate intake," the researchers write. "Reducing the frequency of intake of sugar-containing soft drinks, juices and snacks may be beneficial."
Reuters

Lower cholesterol drugs and their side effects

Merck & Co. reported its trial cholesterol drug MK-859 raised levels of "good" HDL cholesterol by more than 50 percent in medical trials, devoid of high blood pressure or developing heart disease effects.

The drug is a part of the similar class of medicines as torcetrapib, Pfizer Inc.'s high-profile trial medicine that was stopped previous this month after it was connected to high blood pressure and a number of deaths. MK-364 is a new drug to loss weight which is also trialing by Merck. However, Merck said its drug was linked with psychiatric side effects in medical trials.

Lower cholesterol with Cuban sugar cane

A recent study found that Cuban sugar cane does not lower cholesterol. There are many plant products that lower cholesterol like: plant sterols, however, Cuban sugar cane does not seem to be one of the helpful plants for lower cholesterol.

The study which done on 21 men and women showed that Cuban sugar cane does not reduce cholesterol level.

This results against many studies which noted that Cuban sugar cane can be very helpful to reduce cholesterol levels.

Apple to control cholesterol levels

Apples fruit have multiple benefits of a very high nutritional value. It is also an effective treatment for those wishing to reduce their weight, and the proportion of apples controlling cholesterol in the blood, and gives a long sense of fulfillment.

Eating apples with exfoliation reduces the sense of appetite, that is because of the rich fibers in its cortex. Apples as well are rich in minerals such as iron, copper and vitamins such as vitamin "C".

Apples also limit the high blood pressure and control the cholesterol level in the body, thus it is considered as an important food for people suffer from diabetes specially those obese. Therefore doctors advice to eat an apple half an hour before lunch to reduce appetite.

For lower cholesterol basic info

Cholesterol is a soft white laminated material without taste and smell exist in the blood and all parts of the body. The body needs cholesterol to function normally and is used to build cells. It is located in the wall or a membrane cell in the brain, nerves, muscles, skin, liver, stomach and heart. The body uses cholesterol to produce many hormones, vitamin D, and the acidification of yellow bile acids that help digest fats. The body needs small quantity of it to meet this requirement. The large increase in the amount of cholesterol in the blood leads to arteriosclerosis. Arteriosclerosis is the deposition of cholesterol and fats in the arteries, including coronary arteries and thus contributes to blocking arteries causing heart disease