Targeting Oxidized Cholesterol and LDL

Preventing and slowing athrosclerosis is accomplished in three ways:

The key is to keep LDL from turning into the more dangerous oxidized form.

Oxidized LDL cholesterol occurs when free radicals in the blood damage the existing LDL cholesterol or when it is introduce from our diet in an oxidized form. A certain amount of cholesterol, even LDL cholesterol is needed for normal cell function and in most people the liver produces only the right amount. However, when there is excess LDL either through genetics or diet, and not enough antioxidants, there can be the risk of oxidized LDL. Some of the potentially serious conditions created by oxidized LDL are jumpstarting atherosclerosis.

Diabetics have also been found to have a greater occurrence of oxidized LDL. For all of us there are increased risks of vascular and heart disease from the elevated levels of oxidized cholesterol and oxidized LDL. It makes sense that ridding the body of free radicals can help prevent LDL cholesterol from becoming oxidized. And it makes equally good sense to rid ourselves of oxidized cholesterol itself. Antioxidants are known to reduce free radicals and therefore help with oxidation.

Proper diet is extremely important in lowering LDL cholesterol and in providing the body with beneficial antioxidants and naturally-occuring bioactives that serve a housekeeping role to prevent the update of oxidized cholesterol or simply neutralize oxidized LDL within our body.

Selected References