Nutrition Doctor: 10 days to lower cholesterol | Dr. Sarah Berry

Impact

Menopause significantly impacts cholesterol levels, with women experiencing a notable increase in LDL cholesterol post-menopause. Sarah Berry explains that this rise is due to the loss of estrogen, which is a strong activator of the LDL receptor. Consequently, women often surpass men in LDL levels after menopause, making diet even more crucial during this period 1.

As soon as you hit the menopause, suddenly your trajectory changes. You actually overtake men as women in your LDL cholesterol levels.

--- Sarah Berry

Research from the Zoe Predict studies shows a 25% increase in LDL cholesterol in postmenopausal women, highlighting the importance of dietary management to mitigate this rise 2.

   

ApoB

ApoB is a critical marker for assessing cardiovascular risk, often considered more accurate than LDL cholesterol. Sarah Berry notes that ApoB particles, which include LDL, can linger longer in the bloodstream due to genetics, poor diet, or lifestyle, increasing cardiovascular risk 3.

The apolipoprotein B is, we know, the single most important predictor of cardiovascular disease in relation to cholesterol.

--- Sarah Berry

Despite its accuracy, ApoB is less commonly measured due to its cost and complexity, though it is increasingly used in research and some clinical settings 4.