Has your cholesterol actually gone down?

[JACO1974]

Just curious if anyone has actually experienced this? Not that I don't believe you or anything. I just want some real honest opinions on this subject in light of the recent lawsuit. I am starting Atkins because I was to get healthy. So any input would be great!

Jason

[MyJourney]

My triglycerides went down about 350 points.

My cholesterol, blood pressure and blood sugar have all improved!

My HDL went up, my LDL went down, my hypoglycemia went away and I wasnt this healthy when I weighed 125 lbs!

My PCOS has improved dramatically and my hair is starting to grow fuller and thicker too!

[Hellistile]

My overall cholesterol went down a fraction but my triglycerides went down 25%. My arthritis and sore joints virtually disappeared, my depression disappeared, my energy and libido came back, to name just a few of the positive changes, and I am a hellava lot happier.

[BBQman]

I don't know if my cholesterol went down because I never got bloodwork done pre-LC, but I just got blood work back last week. My HDL is 44 and my LDL is 90, which are both good numbers from what I hear. I don't know why my triglycerides are but I plan on asking today when I go in for my physical.

[tofi]

My cholesterol & triglycerides went down and my Total/HDL ration is down in the "below average risk" category. Hurray!

[tofi]

Look at this recent thread: http://forum.lowcarber.org/showthread.php?t=187574

[RoseTattoo]

My LDL and triglycerides initially went way down. Then last time I got tested my LDL went up, but so did my HDL (slightly), and the triglycerides stayed low. My LDL is still too high. But I have a chronic genetic problem, which is at least partly not controllable through diet.

[Quinadal]

Triglycerides down over 150 pts to 46, total cholesterol down over 60 to 161, HDL is 53.

[JL53563]

I did not get blood work done pre low-carbing, but my total is 204, HDL 77, LDL 119, triglycerides 37. So although I can't say my cholesterol went down, I am certain this woe has done me no harm.

[tagcaver]

Well, the total went up, but it is due to the increase in HDL (the good type). Look at my signature.

[tofi]

The same thing happened with me. I asked for a copy of my results and he said that "the total looks a bit high, but not to worry because the ratio is so excellent." So I didn't worry.

Cholesterol: My GP said that the LDL number was "calculated"
and would look high, but the REAL thing to look at is the RATIO.

. HDL: 1.98 (0.90 -> 2.40 mmo1/L is desirable range)
. LDL Calc. 3.91 (2.0 -> 3.40 is mmo1/L is desirable range)
BUT RATIO = Total Chol / HDL
. . . . 3.15 !!!!!

Less than 3.50 = BELOW AVERAGE RISK for coronary heart disease
. . . 3.5 - 5.00 = average risk
. . . 5.00 - 10.00 = above average risk

Triglycerides: 0.74 ( less than 2.30 mmo1/L is desirable range)

[black57]

I don't know if my cholesterol went down because I never got bloodwork done pre-LC, but I just got blood work back last week. My HDL is 44 and my LDL is 90, which are both good numbers from what I hear. I don't know why my triglycerides are but I plan on asking today when I go in for my physical.


I don't know what happened with me because I neglected to have any bloodwork before the diet. But, the reason I felt comfortable with doing this diet is because the American Heart Association did a study on this diet where they discovered that overal lipids improved with this diet. I just took for granted, because of this study, that my results would be good. Well anyway, I have had bloodwork done twice in the 1 1/2 years that I have been doing this. As of December my HDL=77 LDL=59 triglycerides=59 glucose=98

I am very leary about this news of the lawsuit.Why aren't health officials falling all over themselves to make restrictions on this diet like they did with ephedra? I have heard two different amounts of money that the victim is seeking ( $15,000.00 and $28,000.00 ). What kind of lawsuit money is that?!? That will be just enough to pay all dem lawyers. Why is this even getting any press? I think it is BS.

[jimjam]

:( Mine went up...

[LucyLucy]

Despite my family of 'thin' people, I am one of the few who is NOT on any cholesterol meds. My cholesterol went from 199 last year to 172 just last month, all HDL/LDL & triglycerides all improved dramatically since I started LC in April. I also have always had low-blood pressure, and LC has reduced it further, so that's good too.

LL :)

[AtkinsBOY1]

:( Mine went up...

Its okay if your cholsetrol went up. First relax. Then ask your doctor for the subtypes of your ldl. My ldl is high but i got my ldl fractinaed and most of the ldl was lipoprotien A, wich can prevent heart disease and other diseases and is benefiacal form protecting against heart attacks. So please ask your doctor to get subtypes of your ldl

[ceberezin]

My LDL didn't change much, but my HDL went up to 85, so my risk factors are very low. My LDL/HDL ratio is 1.64, which my blood test results say is too low! My triglycerides are 47, so triglycerides/HDL, the most accurate assessment of risk, is .5. With all that good news, I'm just not concerned that my LDL is 138, especialy since the large, fluffy type of LDL is associated with low triglycerides.

[LukeA]

I don't have my exact numbers handy right now..(i think i left them at my parents house or something? lol). But my cholesterol was SKY HIGH DANGEROUS before lcing, but after only about a month and a half, it plummeted to perfectly normal healthy levels according to my doctor. My blood pressure also went down a lot to normal levels.

[bluesmoke]

Don't know, don't care, I think the whole cholesterol uproar is nonsense. Nyah Levi

[Samuel]

I have just received my blood test results today. I'm not very happy about them.

Before Atkins I have not been feeling too healthy. Doctors used to tell me that my HDL is low and I have never kept a test result. My last test was taken 2 years before Atkins.

After 6 months of Atkins diet, I took a blood test, I was getting around 20-30 carbs a day. Now, after one year of maintenance, getting 40-50 carbs a day, I took another test. Here are the results:

............. AFTER 6 MONTHS AFTER 18 MONTHS
HDL.................. 48 .......................... 60
LDL................. 112 ......................... 137
Total............... 195 ......................... 212
Blood Sugar........N/A ........................ 110

The only improvement would be in the LDL/HDL ratio. It went slightly down from 2.33 to 2.28

My blood sugar is above normal which is very unusual. I have never been diabetic. Can any body give me answer for that?

[Skyangel]

My triglycerides went down from 239 to 96. My HDL and LDL improved slightly, and blood pressure dropped from 138/88 to 120/70. I've been LC for 17 months and I feel great!

[Dodger]

Samuel,

You didn't post your triglycerides, but base on the equation
Tot Chol = HDL + LDL + Tri/5
your triglycerides are:

6 mo 18 Mo
175 75

This is a great reduction and, along with your 25% increase in HDL is a great improvement in your lipid profile. You should be happy with those improvements.

I would recommend getting another blood sugar test.

[Samuel]

Thanks for your response. I'll call my doctor's office to see if they have my triglyceride readings. I believe they have them except that they include in the letter they send me only the numbers which are either bad or near the borderline.

[Samuel]

Samuel,

You didn't post your triglycerides, but base on the equation
Tot Chol = HDL + LDL + Tri/5
your triglycerides are:

6 mo 18 Mo
175 75

This is a great reduction and, along with your 25% increase in HDL is a great improvement in your lipid profile. You should be happy with those improvements.

I would recommend getting another blood sugar test.
Thanks again. The triglycerides have been very close to your numbers. Also my blood sugar has not been too low in the older test.

............................AFTER 6 MONTHS............AFTER 18 MONTH
Tryglycerides ............... 172 .............................. 75
Glucose........................ 105 ............................. 110

They have also made several charts for my heart and tested me on a tredmill and said that the results have been "extremely good".

Generally I feel much healthier than I have been before the diet. Thanks again.

[Nancy LC]

My total cholesterol was 260 before starting atkins, Triglycerides were a big problem for me. After starting my total cholesterol went down 60 points, HDL went up a bit, triglycerides went WAY down and I think LDL went up just a pinch. It's 199 now.

[eightc]

I didnt have my numbers done prior, but just got mine back today.
Total: 119
Tri: 37
HDL: 71
LDL: 119

Dr. says looks great and to keep on doing what I am doing. :)

[Lisa N]

EightC, your fractions look great but I think the lab may have made a mistake in your "total" number.
Total cholesterol equals HDL + LDL + triglycerides divided by 5 and when I add your fractions together, I get a total of 197 (rounded down from 197.4).
Keep up the good work, though...your numbers look great! :thup:

[musicmama]

I never had a workup done before LC,,but had a complete one done 2 weeks ago,,,,my doctor was so amazed at the numbers she said she was giving me a copy so i would have something to be proud of! She asked me what I had been doing, I said playing around with the low carb diet. She said Keep it up!! Its working!! Needless to say now that I know how healthy I am ,I am working hard at it! You can check em out at my journal!

[tom sawyer]

Before LC, my total chol would test between 185 and 200. In the 18 months since I've been LCing, my total is 170, ratio is under 3, and triglycerides are under 100. Needless to say, I'm a happy camper.

I understand that a blood lipid profile isn't necessarily the last word in terms of arterial health, but I figure that normal results are more of an indication that things are good, than high numbers are an indication that things are bad. Does that make sense? What I'm trying to say is, I think there are fewer cases of good numbers/ bad arterial health, than there are bad numbers/ good arterial health.

[AtkinsBOY1]

Thanks again. The triglycerides have been very close to your numbers. Also my blood sugar has not been too low in the older test.

............................AFTER 6 MONTHS............AFTER 18 MONTH
Tryglycerides ............... 172 .............................. 75
Glucose........................ 105 ............................. 110

They have also made several charts for my heart and tested me on a tredmill and said that the results have been "extremely good".

Generally I feel much healthier than I have been before the diet. Thanks again.
umm ur.. fine becuase ur ldl increased that becuse of lipoprotien a wich is benefical to the heart stay on the atkins even though ur ldl might even increase more trust me ur fine. If u dont bleive me get it fractionaed

[Skrat]

When in induction, my total cholserol was 230, thought my triglycerides fell dramatically. When I tokk a 'vacation' and was in maintenance, my profile was perfect - 201 tot, low triglycerides, great ratio - I think my doctor seemed amazed.

To summerize - induction - a little high, in maintenance, perfect. Triglycerides stayed low no matter which phase I was in.

[kyrie]

I can't remember the numbers, but after a brief spike, my LDL went down lower than pre-Atkins, almost so low as to no longer be in the high range, and my HDL went up quite a bit, so the ratio rocks.

[haileydawg]

How do you figure out your ratio? I have all my numbers so just need the formula. Thanks

[nomosketti]

Yeah, what Hailey said.

Please and Thank You

[Wyvrn]

I started in back on Atkins in September and didn't get a lipid panel until December and the numbers were not so good. Total 240 and HDL only in the 40s. I was disappointed, but I was under a lot of stress at the time and the person who took them said that was probably part of the problem, and that I should come back after all the holiday stress was over.

I don't know if it was stress reduction or the fact that after that test I added coconut oil to my diet (which about doubled the percentage of saturated fat I was consuming) but I got them taken again a couple of weeks ago and the numbers had improved considerably. My total cholesterol had dropped 20 points, HDL went up 8 and triglycerides dropped 40 points.

Wyv