Help deciphering blood test results

[Duncan Swain]

Hi,
Am hoping someone can help.
I'm based in London, UK, and have recently had a blood test that has given the following result:

Cholesterol (Fasting) : 4.8 mmo1/1
Trigliceride : 0.62 mmo1/1
HDL : 1.37 mmo1/1
LDL : 3.15 mmo1/1

I'm finding it hard to compare like for like with the way blood test are typically displayed in the US. My doctor is now telling me to take Benecol daily to reverse the HDL/LDL numbers as the ratios are currently not good.

I have two questions:
1 - can anyone help me put these results into context - i.e. how good/bad are they?

2 - is there an alternative to Benecol, something with less additives?

Thanks in advance for any help,

Duncan

[Tony Ferous]

Benecol is that margarine crap with sterols in right? I would go near that!

Whats your diet, fitness level and exercise regime like, thats the first place to get in order.

[Duncan Swain]

Benecol also comes as a yogurt-type drink in the uk too, which is what I'm trying now (though has some sugars and a shit-load of preservatives).

Fitness
3 times a week CF WOD-based for last 3-4 years, previous to that typical weights and runnin globo gym style training for previous 20 years.

Diet
the good: lots of meat (organic, mostly grass-fed), lots of veg, lots of nuts; no sugar, pasta or bread
the not-so-good: peanut butter, some milk, some oats

[Steven Low]

This may help:
http://www.faqs.org/faqs/diabetes/fa...section-9.html

from the numbers they don't actually look that bad if the conversion numbers are right...

Do you take any supplements?

[Duncan Swain]

Hi Steven,

Thanks for the link, v helpful.

In terms of supplements, I take zinc, B complex, vits C and E and fish oil.

[Steven Low]

Definitely start talking Vitamin D:
http://www.eatmoveimprove.com/2009/1...-at-vitamin-d/

Magnesium and calcium may help as well...

It doesn't look like you're doing anything wrong unless your sleep is trash or there's something in your diet/training that you're not telling us (or you are silently not doing well with).

[Darryl Shaw]

Originally Posted by Duncan Swain

2 - is there an alternative to Benecol, something with less additives?

I don't know of any alternatives to Benecol worth recomending so I think you're just going to have to read the labels carefully if you want to avoid unnecessary additives. Anyway, here's a few links to some of the research on phytosterols and cholesterol -

Lowering cholesterol - A review on the role of plant sterols.

http://lpi.oregonstate.edu/infocente...icals/sterols/

Stanol/Sterol Ester–Containing Foods and Blood Cholesterol Levels.

This final one is interesting as it suggests that the decreased carotenoid levels resulting from increased sterol intakes can be addressed simply by increasing consumption of foods high in carotenoids.

Impact of quality of dietary fat on serum cholesterol and coronary heart disease: focus on plant sterols and other non-glyceride components.

[Duncan Swain]

Thanks Darryl - much appreciated.