Kathleen Theisen wrote:

> Hi everyone,
>
> Does anyone know if it's possible to raise an HDL level?  I have a
> friend, 41 year old male, who is in perfect health (155 lbs, 5'10"
> tall, does yoga daily) with great blood test results. He eats very
> healthy and his total cholesterol is 170, but HDl is only 32.  His
> doctor said he should take lipitor to change the ratio of LDL to HDL,
> but told him there's no way to raise HDL.   I am a 90% paleo eater, so
> I don't agree with that theory.  there must be a way.  He has been told
> that HDL is totally genetic (and his father died of a heart attack at
> age 51).  Any thoughts?
>
> Kathleen


In overweight people, just losing body fat tends to cause an increase in
HDL, but this doesn't appear to apply to your friend.  There are two
relatively easy things he might try, to increase HDL, if that's what he
wants to do.  One is to have a couple of drinks (containing alcohol) a
day.  Alcohol raises HDL.  Another is to supplement with niacin or
nicotinic acid.  These are, of course, not paleo remedies.  When I went
lowcarb, then paleo, my HDL went from 32 to 48, but I also lost a lot of
weight in the process, so I can't say that it was anything apart from
the weight loss that was responsible.

Todd Moody
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