High HDL?

[advanracing62]

Just got a call from the dr. saying my HDL is a bit high- like 12pts too high... or higher than normal- Concurrently my Test is low (I'm fixing that, but this isn't the forum for it ) anything I should worry about or no? Just curious.

[rpen22]

I wouldn't be worried about high HDL-C.

[yeahright]

In general, you want your HDL to be as high as possible.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_density_lipoprotein

[Travis]

In general, you want your HDL to be as high as possible.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_density_lipoprotein

Well not if you already have heart disease, lol. I'm assuming this person doesnt however:

When 'Good' Cholesterol Goes Bad

HDL analysis uncovers a dark side, but also a new way it fights heart disease
By Ed Edelson, HealthDay Reporter
Picture (Metafile)It looks like HDL, the "good" cholesterol that supposedly protects against cardiovascular disease, might have a harmful side.

New research suggests that some people's HDL is more protective for their hearts than others, and that certain proteins in HDL can exacerbate vessel damage, particularly in people with heart disease.

But there's good news, too, as scientists uncover a new means by which HDL boosts cardiovascular health.
The findings were to be reported Wednesday at the American Chemical Society's annual meeting in Boston.
So far, the cholesterol story has been a relatively simple one in which "bad" low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol formed plaques that eventually blocked arteries, while "good" high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol worked to carry away those deposits, explained Dr. Jay Heinecke, a professor of medicine at the University of Washington, Seattle.

"But in the last few years there has been growing evidence that HDL does other things," he said. "In particular, it may be inhibiting inflammation."

Inflammation is the major villain in the new picture. Arteries are not only blocked because of the gradual growth of plaque. Instead, there comes a moment when plaque ruptures, causing a clot to form and block blood flow, Heinecke said. Proteins called proteases play a major role in these ruptures.

"What we found in HDL is a whole series of proteins that inhibit proteases," Heinecke said, describing what he called the most detailed analysis to date of HDL's protein composition. "So, part of [HDL's] protective effect is to prevent rupture."

The Seattle analysis also found a lot of previously unrecognized HDL proteins, including 22 that play roles in cholesterol metabolism.

One finding of particular significance is that HDL protein composition can be different in people who have heart disease and those who do not -- meaning that some of the supposedly "good" HDL proteins are really bad.

"With LDL cholesterol it's simple -- the lower the better," Heinecke said. "With HDL, it's much more complicated. The protein composition of people with and without heart disease is different."

So, measuring blood levels of LDL and HDL cholesterol is not as predictive of cardiac risk, as has been assumed, Heinecke stressed. "Protein composition [in HDL cholesterol] may be a better handle on whether someone is at risk," he added.

Animal studies have found "dysfunctional" HDL cholesterol, which works against coronary health, Heinecke said. "It is proposed that the same thing is going on in humans," he noted.

The finding of dysfunctional HDL proteins helps explain why a major pharmaceutical company ended work on an HDL-boosting drug when it was found to actually increase deaths and heart problems in a human trial.

A better understanding of the protein components of HDL could lead to more accurate tests for heart disease, Heinecke said. "Most people who have heart attacks have normal levels of HDL, so the composition of the HDL may tell who is vulnerable," he said.

Future cardiac therapy may include LDL-lowering statins and new drugs aimed at the damaging components of HDL cholesterol, Heinecke said.

More Information
There's more on HDL and LDL cholesterol at the American Heart Association.

SOURCES: Jay Heinecke, M.D., professor, medicine, University of Washington, Seattle; Aug. 22, 2007, American Chemical Society annual meeting, Boston

[advanracing62]

Yeah- my fiance is a RN- I asked her when she got home- I guess the chick that told me that it was a big deal was high or something.
Thanks for the responses though! It's nice to know that we can support one another.

[Mr.50]

Just got a call from the dr. saying my HDL is a bit high- like 12pts too high... or higher than normal- Concurrently my Test is low (I'm fixing that, but this isn't the forum for it ) anything I should worry about or no? Just curious.

Advance,

the thing I would be most concerned about (if anything at all since overall high HDL is a good thing) is that if you have low test and high HDL you could be experiencing elevated estrogen. Estrogen raises HDL and also lowers test production so it is clearly an avenue to pursue to make sure part fo the cause of your low test is not elevated estrogen.

Mr.50

[advanracing62]

50- the test levels will be significantly raised shortly- as for blocking estro- I have that covered after the fact- Now, should I drop below normal levels of test when I'm done.. then it's time for insurance to start footing the bill :-)

[Mr.50]

50- the test levels will be significantly raised shortly- as for blocking estro- I have that covered after the fact- Now, should I drop below normal levels of test when I'm done.. then it's time for insurance to start footing the bill :-)

Making sure you have optimal levels of both Test and Estro is the most important for cardio health and the health of your woody!

[prld2gr8ns]

Well not if you already have heart disease, lol. I'm assuming this person doesnt however:

The effects on HDL seem to break down to small and large particle ratios. Large HDLs are more bouyant thus able to skip around to cells and collect cholesterol then undergo adequate efflux for disposal in the liver. Small particle size HDL have shown exact opposites in some clinical trials in terms of atherogenic disease risk factors. If your ratios of small/large are small then it seems(at least with new data) that your healthy as a horse. If vice versa it seems to be correlated with increased risk, though how and why is yet to be determined.