Elevated cholesterol levels can be influenced not only by diet and lifestyle, but also by genetic factors. One inherited condition is familial hypercholesterolemia, which can cause LDL cholesterol levels to be elevated from a young age.
If a family member has been diagnosed with very high cholesterol, or cardiovascular disease appeared at a young age in your family, it's worth discussing this with a doctor. Inherited high cholesterol cannot be reliably identified based on how you feel alone.
What is familial hypercholesterolemia?
Familial hypercholesterolemia is an inherited condition linked to elevated LDL cholesterol levels in the blood. Due to genetic factors, the body doesn't regulate LDL cholesterol as effectively, so levels can already be elevated at a young age.
This is not the same as a cholesterol increase caused solely by diet or lifestyle.
Diagnosis is made by healthcare professionals, based on blood test results, personal and family health history, and, when needed, other tests.
When is it worth talking to a doctor?
It's worth paying closer attention to cholesterol testing if:
- you've been found to have very high LDL cholesterol;
- high cholesterol was identified at a young age;
- close family members have been found to have very high cholesterol;
- there have been cases of early cardiovascular disease in your family;
- your doctor suspects an inherited cholesterol metabolism disorder.
Family history alone doesn't confirm familial hypercholesterolemia. Your individual situation and test results should be evaluated by a doctor.
Does lifestyle still matter if cholesterol is inherited?
Health-supporting lifestyle habits remain important for people with inherited high cholesterol too. However, with familial hypercholesterolemia, diet and physical activity changes alone may not be enough.
Taking into account your LDL cholesterol level and your overall cardiovascular disease risk, a doctor may also recommend medication. Prescribed treatment should not be changed or stopped on your own.
What to pay attention to in your everyday diet?
In your everyday diet, it's worth choosing a variety of plant-based foods and paying attention to the overall composition of your diet.
You can more often choose:
- vegetables, fruit and berries;
- whole grain products;
- beans, lentils, chickpeas and other legumes;
- nuts and seeds;
- various fiber-rich foods.
It's also important to pay attention to your saturated fat intake and follow your doctor's or dietitian's recommendations, if they've been given.
What role does fiber play in your diet?
Dietary fiber is a component of plant-based foods. It's found in vegetables, fruit and berries, legumes, whole grains, nuts and seeds.
It's important not to generalize the effects of all fiber. Different types of fiber have different properties, and specific health claims about cholesterol depend on the specific fiber substance, its amount and the conditions of use that have been established.
Read more about types of fiber, their sources and how to use them in our Fiber Guide.
How can "fruttberry +fiber" help supplement your diet with fiber?
"fruttberry +fiber" is a plant-based fiber blend with strawberries and blackcurrants. It contains psyllium (Plantago ovata) seed husks, agave inulin, glucomannan, freeze-dried strawberries and blackcurrants.
100 g of the product contains 77 g of fiber, and one 5 g serving contains 3.86 g of fiber and 11 kcal.
Laboratory testing of the tested "fruttberry +fiber with berries" sample found 60.8% soluble and 23.6% insoluble fiber. These results apply to the specific sample tested and do not demonstrate any effect of the product on blood cholesterol levels.
"fruttberry +fiber" is intended to supplement your everyday diet with fiber. The product is not intended to treat familial hypercholesterolemia or other cholesterol-related conditions and should not replace treatment prescribed by a doctor.
View "fruttberry +fiber" fiber blends.
Key takeaways
Inherited high cholesterol isn't just a matter of diet. If familial hypercholesterolemia is suspected, the most important steps are getting the necessary blood tests done, discussing your family health history with a doctor, and following individual treatment and lifestyle recommendations.
A balanced diet, physical activity and other health-supporting habits are an important part of overall cardiovascular health care, but they do not replace medical evaluation or prescribed treatment.
