How to Raise HDL Through Weight Loss
Being overweight or obese
(see BMI Calculator) is often associated with
high triglycerides and low
HDL. Frequently, weight loss alone can significantly raise HDL levels. Achieving and maintaining a healthy weight through diet and regular exercise is important in managing low HDL levels.
Quitting Smoking to Raise HDL
Smoking cigarettes lowers HDL levels. Cigarette smoking is also a major risk factor for coronary
heart disease. A recent study suggests that passive smoking ("secondhand smoke") also decreases HDL. Quitting smoking can raise HDL and lower the risk for
heart disease.
Does Alcohol Affect Efforts to Raise HDL?
Moderate alcohol intake can raise HDL levels, but it does not lower
LDL cholesterol. Research studies have shown that HDL can be raised, on average, by 4.0 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) with moderate alcohol consumption.
Medications That Can Raise HDL
For someone whose levels are low, the first recommended treatment to raise HDL cholesterol is lifestyle changes. By making such changes, many people are able to raise HDL levels to a "normal" level without the use of medications.
Some
cholesterol medications used to lower LDL can also raise HDL. Studies using statins have reported a modest 5 to 10 percent increase in HDL levels. Nicotinic acid has been shown to raise HDL levels by 15 to 35 percent. Fibrates have been shown to raise it by 10 to 15 percent.
Estrogen tends to raise HDL as well. This is one reason why it is thought that premenopausal women are protected from heart disease. In fact, in studies where women took estrogen, HDL levels increased by up to 10 percent. However, estrogen is currently not a recommended treatment for raising HDL because of the increased risk of developing certain diseases and conditions
(see Hormone Replacement Therapy for more information).
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