If your triglycerides are leading the way, your problem is most likely related to the amount of carbs in your diet, or the way your body handles carbs.
My trigylcerides went from the 250-300 range to well below 100 when I cut way back on the carb intake and did a bit of walking.
My former boss injured his neck/back, and instead of surfing, he was hobbling around and started packing on the weight. His triglycerides went over 500. Doctor told him it was 'genetic' and he needed statins. He took statins for a month, stopped drinking sweet tea and eating rice, and on his six month follow up, his triglycerides and cholesterol were normal. The doctor was amazed to hear that the boss didn't realize that he was supposed to refill the prescription and only took it for a month - according to the doc, the condition was permanent and he was going to advise statins for the rest of the guy's life! Oops.
With numbers like that, Shawn, you have more to worry about than just a heart attack - you likely have insulin resistance and are headed for diabetes.
Insulin does more than move sugar into a cell - it also tells the liver to produce more cholesterol. When triglycerides are high, so are sugar levels, and the pancreas is generally producing lots of insulin. Cut down on carbs, and the triglycerides almost always drop quickly, and the LDL drops as well, but takes more time.
Quote: Curr Atheroscler Rep. 2007 Dec;9(6):441-7.
Low-carbohydrate diets, obesity, and metabolic risk factors for cardiovascular disease.
Samaha FF, Foster GD, Makris AP. University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, Philadelphia VA Medical Center, 3900 Woodland Avenue, 8th Floor Cardiology MC 111C, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA. Rick.samaha@va.gov
Given the increased prevalence of obesity in the United States (and its associated cardiovascular risk) despite reduced fat intake, there has been increasing interest in the effect of low-carbohydrate diets on obesity. Recent prospective trials have demonstrated equivalent weight loss on low-carbohydrate versus low-fat diets, but with significantly different effects on metabolic risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Low-carbohydrate diets have more favorable effects on metabolic abnormalities found in insulin resistance syndromes, including serum triglyceride levels, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, and small, dense low-density lipoprotein particles. The translation of these different metabolic effects on cardiovascular disease and events requires future studies. These studies should take into consideration that patients with insulin resistance syndromes would be the most likely group to benefit from carbohydrate restriction.
America is eating less fat and more carbs, and obesity and diabetes are getting more and more common. Hmm.... and no mention of the change in the type of fats we eat - a big increase in n-6 fats from corn and soy, which are inflammatory.
Brew wrote on Jun 30th, 2009 at 4:58pm:Try the fish oil if you like - I hated it. It's meant to boost your high-density lipoproteins. That's a good thing. But I detested the side-effects which, without getting too detailed, occur in the men's room.
Fish oil does not usually affect HDL at all. It is best at lowering triglycerides, reducing inflammation associated with atherosclerosis, and lowering the risk of arrhythmia problems. We buy plain cod-liver oil by the bottle and take it by the tablespoon (Icelandic tradition) - but my wife only takes it first thing in the morning, right before breakfast. Otherwise she burps it up. Adding some fiber (pectin or psyllium) will usually keep the fat from being burped up and improve absorption, and those types of fiber can lower LDL as well.
The two most common treatments for low HDL are niacin and fibrates. Drinking alcohol in moderation usually raises HDL. 1-2 eggs a day will usually raise HDL without having much of an effect on LDL. Saturated fat also improves HDL, especially in people with insulin resistance who cut back on carbs.
Also, metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance and low HDL is associated with low magnesium levels - which is pretty typical among clusterheads.