Himalaya Livline | Vol 6 | No. 4 | May–Aug 2023 | 13 Patient Education Managing Hypercholesterolemia for a Healthy Liver Several studies have proven that high cholesterol intake can worsen fatty liver disease that leads to inflammation and scarring of the liver.1 The accumulation of lipids in the hepatocytes can cause fibrosis and cirrhosis of the liver. Evidence proves that the increased accumulation of free cholesterol in the liver contributes to severe liver damage.2 Some of the causes of hypercholesterolemia include consumption of fat-rich foods, lack of exercise, being overweight, smoking, and drinking alcohol.3 Consuming nutritious food and adopting a healthy lifestyle help lower the cholesterol level. Here are some tips that can be recommended to patients to maintain healthy cholesterol levels. Reducing the intake of saturated fats and trans fats: Excessive intake of foods containing saturated fats and trans fats can increase the low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol level in the blood. High levels of saturated fat are present in animal foods such as red meat and dairy products, palm oil, and fried food (eg, chips, cakes, biscuits, and pastries). Trans fats, on the other hand, are present in margarine and processed and deep-fried foods. Some other foods that contain high cholesterol include egg yolk, processed meat (eg, bacon and ham), pizza, burger, doughnut and muffin, chocolate, and ice cream. Opting for foods rich in unsaturated fats will help maintain a healthy lipid profile. Healthy unsaturated fats are found in avocados, nuts, olives, oily fish (eg, salmon and sardines), seeds (flaxseeds, chia seeds, and sunflower seeds), and plant- and seed-based oils (eg, soybean oil, olive oil, peanut oil, canola oil, and avocado oil).4-6 Increasing intake of soluble fiber: Soluble fiber helps reduce the absorption of cholesterol into the bloodstream. Soluble fiber is present in foods such as oats, lentils, fruits and vegetables, barley, and sprouts.7 Increasing physical activity: Regular physical activity helps improve metabolism. Exercise also helps decrease the lipoprotein lipase activity, and thus, helps reduce the uptake of free fatty acids. This in turn enhances the upregulation of the enzymes involved in the metabolism of healthy fats in the body. Aerobics, resistance training and muscle training exercises, and yoga are some exercise forms that can be practiced.4,7,8 Following a healthy dietary regimen and engaging in regular physical activity thus play a key role in effectively managing hypercholesterolemia and keeping the liver healthy. References 1. Lewis W. High cholesterol leads to long-term liver scarring and immune cell dysfunction in lab study. https://keck.usc.edu/. Published September 16, 2022. Accessed February 7, 2023. 2. Malhotra P, et al. Front Med. 2020;7:467. 3. NHS. What is high cholesterol? https://www.nhs.uk/. Reviewed July 13, 2022. Accessed February 7, 2023. 4. healthdirect. How to lower your cholesterol. https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/. Reviewed August 2021. Accessed February 7, 2023. 5. healthdirect. Dietary fats. https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/. Reviewed October 2021. Accessed February 22, 2023. 6. Anderson E, Zagorski J. Cooking oils – plant-based oils. https://www.canr. msu.edu/. Published November 7, 2022. Accessed February 22, 2023. 7. Mayo Clinic. Top 5 lifestyle changes to improve your cholesterol. https://www.mayoclinic.org/. Published September 2, 2022. Accessed February 7, 2023. 8. Mika A, et al. Front Physiol. 2019;10:26.
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