Cholesterol is made by the liver and is used in the construction of hormones, bile and cell walls, we also obtain cholesterol from our diet mainly through saturated fat but also foods high in cholesterol.   Saturated fat is converted into cholesterol in our body, so a diet high in saturated fat (fat from animal products such as lard, hard full fat cheese, fat in meat) will increase cholesterol levels.

The liver is a very complex organ and has many functions such as the metabolism of alcohol, fat and cholesterol.  Cholesterol is made and broken down by the liver so poor liver health may result in poor cholesterol breakdown leading to high cholesterol levels.

If you have a diet high in saturated fats your serum cholesterol level will increase, if your liver is in good health and is not producing more than average cholesterol for any reason, your liver will breakdown any excess cholesterol restoring balance.

A good total cholesterol level is between 4.9 and 5.5 mmol/l, it is also important to consider levels of HDL and LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol has been named ‘good cholesterol’ as it is this type of cholesterol that takes cholesterol out of the arteries and back to the liver rather than depositing it in the artery walls.

If you have high cholesterol levels it would be good practice to visit a Nutritional Therapist who can help identify why this may be the case.  Recognised advice to help reduce cholesterol levels includes limiting foods in your diet that are high in saturated fat and increasing foods that contain omega 3 fats that help to control blood cholesterol and fat levels such as oily fish (salmon, mackerel, sardines 3 times per week) and seeds (hemp seeds, sunflower seeds 1 tbsp 5 times per week).  You should also improve the health of your liver by reducing the amount of alcohol you consume and reducing additives and preservatives as these burden the liver as they are processed.

Chromium has also been found to help in breaking down fat and cholesterol in the blood, and deficiency has not only been linked to high blood glucose but also high cholesterol and the development of arterial plaques.¹ Cinnachrome contains chromium polynicotinate as well as vitamin B3 (niacin), vitamin B3 is also effective at increasing HDL ‘good’ cholesterol levels although you need to supplement 500 – 1,000mg per day.

HEP 194 Liver Health Complex is a specialist combination of nutrients aimed at supporting the liver.  It may particularly assist the handling of fats in the liver and contains beta sitosterol with the lipotropic nutrients choline and inositol.
•    Choline is involved in the metabolism of cholesterol
•    Choline and inositol are required for the breakdown of fats in the liver
•    Inositol is used by the body in the regulation of cholesterol
HEP 194 also contains apple extract, methionine and biotin

•    Phloridzine from apple extract is a potent antioxidant, apple extract itself may help support the function of the gallbladder
•    Methionine and choline are required by the liver to help breakdown by-products of protein metabolism
•    Biotin is essential for the metabolism of fats

1.    Evans, G.W. and Bowman, T.D. 1992 ‘Chromium picolinate increases membrane fluidity and rate of insulin internalisation’ J Inorg Bio, 46, 243-250