Tag Archives: bile

Vitamin C for High Cholesterol?

Indeed, vitamin C is a cofactor for 7-alpha-hydroxylase – the enzyme required for the first committing step in bile formation. Cholesterol has to bind to bile in order for it to be excreted in the feces. No vitamin C means no bile, which means no cholesterol excreted. Talk to your ND for more information on vitamin C and your own health.

Fat Free is Bad for High Cholesterol??

Some doc’s put their high cholesterol patients on fat (cholesterol) free diets. If you are one of these people, then you may want to have a conversation with your doctor for some clarity. Here’s why:

Carbohydrates (sugar) get broken down into Acetyl-CoA. Acetyl-CoA is the first building block for cholesterol synthesis. The step by step process for cholesterol synthesis is: Acetyl-CoA -> HMG-CoA -> Mevalonate -> Squalene -> Cholesterol. Therefore, a reduction in one’s consumption of simple carbohydrates is essential.

Furthermore, cholesterol is eliminated from the body via bile, and bile is comprised of steroids that come from cholesterol. Consuming fats (cholesterol) causes the gallbladder to contract and release bile, which binds bad cholesterol for elimination in the feces. In a nutshell, if you’re not eating any fats, you’re not eliminating bad cholesterol. And if you’re consuming lots of carbs, then you’re making matters worse.

Talk to your ND for dietary solutions if you have high cholesterol :)