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You may know that cholesterol levels can impact your health, but all cholesterol isn’t created equal. While some cholesterol can be good for your health, certain types of cholesterol can cause health problems. Very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) cholesterol is a particular type that’s linked to heart disease and may be high in people with obesity.
You may have questions about how VLDL cholesterol is related to obesity and what to do if your levels are high. In this article, you can learn about the role of VLDL in the body, health problems caused by VLDL, and how to manage your VLDL cholesterol levels to improve your heart health.
The level of fats — or lipids — in your bloodstream is measured using a cholesterol test (also called a lipid profile). To do a cholesterol test, your doctor will take a blood sample and measure the different types of lipids in your blood.
A cholesterol test can check for certain lipoproteins, which are molecules that transport fats and cholesterol through your blood. Lipoproteins are made up of a combination of fatty acids, cholesterol, and special proteins called apolipoproteins. There are different types of cholesterol depending on which lipoprotein is involved.
When you get your total cholesterol levels tested, you’ll get a result for both high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol.
LDL cholesterol is known as “bad” cholesterol — high levels of LDL can build up in your bloodstream and increase your risk of heart problems. On the other hand, HDL is called “good” cholesterol because it removes LDL cholesterol from the bloodstream so it can be broken down by the liver and removed from the body. This helps to improve your heart health.
Cholesterol tests also measure the amount of triglycerides — a common type of fat — in your blood. Triglycerides in your blood can also be called plasma triglycerides. Your balance of HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and plasma triglycerides can help your doctor understand whether your overall cholesterol levels are healthy.
VLDL is another type of cholesterol that can be present in your blood. VLDL is created by your liver and works to transport triglycerides to different parts of your body.
Unlike HDL and LDL cholesterol, VLDL cholesterol levels aren’t measured directly in a standard blood cholesterol test. Instead, your doctor may use your triglyceride levels to calculate your VLDL cholesterol.
While your body needs fats and cholesterol, too much can lead to health problems. If your VLDL cholesterol levels are too high, cholesterol can get stuck along the walls of your arteries (the blood vessels that carry blood away from your heart). Buildup of cholesterol and fats inside your arteries is known as plaque.
Plaque buildup makes the space inside your arteries smaller, which can make it harder for blood to flow through. This can cause a type of heart disease (or cardiovascular disease) called atherosclerosis. When plaque buildup leads to atherosclerosis, it prevents your organs from getting enough oxygen.
Atherosclerosis can impact different parts and organs in the body. If the heart is unable to work properly, it can lead to coronary heart disease (also called coronary artery disease). This type of heart disease can lead to serious health complications or even death.
It’s important to know that both LDL and VLDL cholesterol are risk factors for atherosclerosis. You should talk to your doctor about your LDL and VLDL levels to understand your risk of heart disease.
For many people living with obesity, high VLDL cholesterol may be a health concern. Eating more calories than your body needs or a diet that’s high in refined sugar and saturated fat can cause more triglycerides and VLDL particles to be released from the liver. This leads to higher levels of VLDL cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood. A high triglyceride level is also called hyperlipidemia.
Increased VLDL and hyperlipidemia are caused by dyslipidemia, or abnormal levels of fat in the blood. Dyslipidemia is part of metabolic syndrome, which is linked to obesity. Metabolic syndrome also includes other obesity-related health issues such as insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, and hypertension (high blood pressure).
If you have underlying metabolic health issues, you may also be at an increased risk for heart disease. Your healthcare provider should review your full medical history to understand everything that may add to your cardiovascular risk.
Now that you know more about the health risks of high VLDL cholesterol, you may be wondering how you can improve your health. The good news is that with consistent lifestyle changes you can lower your levels of VLDL cholesterol and reduce your risk of heart disease.
One major cause of obesity-related health problems is a poor diet. Regularly eating foods high in sugar, refined carbohydrates, or saturated fats can lead to high levels of VLDL cholesterol in the blood. To protect your heart, try following recommendations from the American Heart Association to have a more heart-healthy diet.
You can reduce the amount of saturated and trans fats you eat by choosing foods with healthier sources of fats. Cooking with moderate amounts of vegetable oil and including more fish and nuts in your diet will help support your body and blood cholesterol levels.
Carbohydrates are an important part of your diet, but try substituting your normal sources of carbs (like breads, rice, and pasta) with whole grains. This can help reduce the amount of refined carbs in your diet while better supporting your heart health. You can also consider switching to a low-carb diet to help lower high cholesterol. Talk to your doctor about what type of dietary changes may be best for you.
Quitting smoking can benefit your heart health by increasing HDL cholesterol in your blood. If you smoke or vape and want to stop, talk to your healthcare provider for resources that can help you.
Increasing your physical activity can help boost levels of HDL cholesterol, which helps to lower blood cholesterol levels and support heart health. If you don’t typically get a lot of exercise, start a low-to-moderate intensity routine to get your body moving. Always discuss exercise with a healthcare provider before starting a new fitness routine to make sure that it’s safe for you.
Weight loss can help fight health problems caused by excess body fat, including high blood cholesterol. Following the steps to improve your diet and get more physical activity can help you decrease your body weight. While losing weight can be difficult, a little goes a long way — even just a 5 percent to 10 percent weight loss can help to lower your blood cholesterol.
Statins are a type of drug that is commonly used to help people lower their cholesterol. These drugs can improve blood cholesterol numbers by lowering levels of triglycerides and both LDL and VLDL cholesterol. Ask your doctor about whether statins or other medications may help to lower your cholesterol and decrease your risk of heart disease.
On MyObesityTeam, people share their experiences with obesity, get advice, and find support from others who understand.
Do you have more questions about VLDL cholesterol? Are you trying to lower your VLDL cholesterol levels? Let others know in the comments below.
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