What happens when you have high cholesterol

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The Impact of High Cholesterol on Health

Understanding High Cholesterol

High cholesterol, also known as hypercholesterolemia, is a condition characterized by elevated levels of cholesterol in the blood. Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance essential for building cell membranes, producing certain hormones, and aiding in fat digestion. However, excessive cholesterol can lead to various health issues, particularly cardiovascular diseases 2910.

Cardiovascular Diseases and Atherosclerosis

One of the most well-known consequences of high cholesterol is its association with cardiovascular diseases (CVD), including atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is a condition where cholesterol accumulates in the walls of arteries, leading to plaque formation, which can restrict blood flow and increase the risk of heart attacks and strokes 125. Studies have shown that both high low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and extremely high high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels are linked to increased risks of atherosclerotic CVD mortality 347.

Impact on Other Diseases

Liver Diseases and Diabetes

Excess cholesterol is not only detrimental to cardiovascular health but also plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of other diseases. High cholesterol levels have been implicated in liver diseases and diabetes. The accumulation of cholesterol in the liver can lead to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), which can progress to more severe liver conditions .

Chronic Kidney Disease

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is another condition exacerbated by high cholesterol levels. Cholesterol accumulation in the kidneys can impair their function, leading to a decline in the body's ability to filter waste products from the blood .

Alzheimer's Disease

There is also evidence suggesting that high cholesterol levels may contribute to the development of Alzheimer's disease. Cholesterol can affect the brain's function and structure, potentially leading to cognitive decline and neurodegenerative diseases .

Osteoporosis and Osteoarthritis

High cholesterol has been linked to bone-related conditions such as osteoporosis and osteoarthritis. Cholesterol accumulation can interfere with bone metabolism, leading to weakened bones and joint issues .

Immune Disorders and Inflammation

Cholesterol accumulation in immune cells, such as macrophages, promotes inflammatory responses. This inflammation can worsen conditions associated with chronic metabolic inflammation, including obesity and atherosclerosis. Therapeutic interventions targeting cholesterol levels may help mitigate these inflammatory responses .

Familial Hypercholesterolemia

Familial hypercholesterolemia is a genetic condition characterized by extremely high cholesterol levels due to the body's inability to remove excess cholesterol. This condition significantly increases the risk of developing heart disease at an early age 910.

Conclusion

High cholesterol is a significant health concern that extends beyond cardiovascular diseases. It plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of various conditions, including liver diseases, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, Alzheimer's disease, osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, and immune disorders. Understanding the widespread impact of high cholesterol underscores the importance of managing cholesterol levels through lifestyle changes and, when necessary, medication.

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Most relevant research papers on this topic

Cholesterol-induced toxicity: An integrated view of the role of cholesterol in multiple diseases.

High levels of cholesterol are generally considered to be associated with atherosclerosis. In the past two decades, however, a number of studies have shown that excess cholesterol accumulation in various tissues and organs plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of multiple diseases. Here, we summarize the effects of excess cholesterol on disease pathogenesis, including liver diseases, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, Alzheimer's disease, osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, pituitary-thyroid axis dysfunction, immune disorders, and COVID-19, while proposing that excess cholesterol-induced toxicity is ubiquitous. We believe this concept will help broaden the appreciation of the toxic effect of excess cholesterol, and thus potentially expand the therapeutic use of cholesterol-lowering medications.

Very Rigorous JournalHighly Cited

2021·

265citations

·Yongfeng Song et al.

Cell metabolism·

DOI

Hypercholesterolemia

High cholesterol levels in the blood increase the risk of developing heart disease.

Highly Cited

2020·

86citations

·S. Martínez-Hervás et al.

Definitions·

DOI

Association of extremely high levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol with cardiovascular mortality in a pooled analysis of 9 cohort studies including 43,407 individuals: The EPOCH-JAPAN study.

Extremely high levels of HDL-C are associated with an increased risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease mortality, particularly in current drinkers.

Meta-AnalysisHighly Cited

2018·

126citations

·A. Hirata et al.

Journal of clinical lipidology·

DOI

Association between extremely high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and adverse cardiovascular outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Extremely high HDL-C levels are associated with elevated risks of all-cause mortality, cardiovascular disease mortality, and stroke compared to normal HDL-C levels.

Meta-Analysis

2023·

12citations

·Guanwei Zhang et al.

Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine·

DOI

Cholesterol, inflammation and innate immunity

Hypercholesterolaemia promotes inflammation, which worsens chronic metabolic diseases like atherosclerosis and obesity, but therapeutic interventions like increased HDL production may help.

Highly Cited

2015·

1307citations

·A. Tall et al.

Nature Reviews Immunology·

DOI

Elevated serum uric acid increases risks for developing high LDL cholesterol and hypertriglyceridemia: A five-year cohort study in Japan.

Elevated serum uric acid increases the risk for developing high LDL cholesterol and hypertriglyceridemia, potentially shedding light on its role in cardiovascular disease.

Observational StudyRigorous JournalHighly Cited

2018·

143citations

·M. Kuwabara et al.

International journal of cardiology·

DOI

Extreme high high-density lipoprotein cholesterol is paradoxically associated with high mortality in men and women: two prospective cohort studies

Extreme high HDL cholesterol levels are paradoxically associated with high all-cause mortality in both men and women.

Observational StudyRigorous JournalHighly Cited

2017·

498citations

·C. M. Madsen et al.

European Heart Journal·

DOI

A low prevalence of coronary heart disease among subjects with increased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, including those with plasma cholesteryl ester transfer protein deficiency.

High HDL levels, regardless of CETP deficiency, are protective against coronary heart disease, regardless of the presence of CETP mutations.

Observational StudyHighly Cited

1998·

183citations

·Y. Moriyama et al.

Preventive medicine·

DOI

Familial hypercholesterolemia.

Familial hypercholesterolemia is a genetic condition, and if inherited, it increases a person's risk of developing heart disease.

2007·

11citations

·R. Hegele

The New England journal of medicine

Familial Hypercholesterolemia: The Most Common Monogenic Disorder in Humans.

Familial hypercholesterolemia is an inherited condition characterized by high cholesterol levels in the blood, increasing a person's risk of developing heart disease.

Very Rigorous Journal

2020·

14citations

·J. Kastelein et al.

Journal of the American College of Cardiology·

DOI

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