To prevent hypercholesterolemia with LDL elevation, attention must be paid to reducing individual risk factors.
Behavioral risk factors
- Diet
- Chronic overeating
- High caloric intake
- High intake of saturated fatty acids as well as cholesterol and trans fatty acids (10-20 g trans fatty acids/day; e.g., baked goods, chips, fast food products, convenience foods, fried foods such as French fries, breakfast cereals with added fat, snacks, confectionery, dry soups)
- High sugar consumption
- Too low a proportion of monounsaturated fatty acids
- Too low a proportion of polyunsaturated fatty acids
- Diet low in fiber
- Micronutrient deficiency (vital substances) – see Prevention with micronutrients.
- Chronic overeating
- Pleasure food consumption
- Alcohol (woman: > 20 g/day; man > 30 g/day).
- Tobacco (smoking)
- Physical activity
- Physical inactivity
- Psycho-social situation
- Sleep deprivation
- Stress
- Overweight (BMI ≥ 25; obesity)? – DYSIS (Dyslipidemia International Study) studied more than 50,000 patients in 30 countries. The authors could find no association between body mass index (BMI) and LDL cholesterol.
Environmental pollution – intoxications (poisonings).
- Intoxication with nicotinic acid (also: niacin).
Prevention factors (protective factors)
- Walnuts: 43 g per day improved lipid metabolism and lowered LDL cholesterol by about 5%.