Photo courtesy of Rivney Ranch

This is a guest post by Skyler Tanner. Skyler has been in the health, fitness, and physical performance field for nearly a decade. On top of constant self-experimentation, he maintains a large training client load in which to further test and improve theories. He recently started a website in which all manners of body hacks and performance theory will be discussed at www.skylertanner.com.

Recent research suggests eggs mimic the cholesterol lowering effects of statin drugs

Last week, a client of mine brought her husband in to observe her training session. A recently retired college professor, he was in typical academic shape: sharp of the mind but dull in the stomach. At 78 years old, however, he’s managed to keep himself off of “any drugs,” in spite of the fact that his doctor keeps “trying to sell them to [him].” He has high cholesterol, like so many overweight individuals I encounter. My knee-jerk reaction of switching to a paleo-mimicking style of eating seems, based on recent studies, to be half of the prescription I should have given.

Cholesterol, for the lay among us, is a lipid sterol found in the cell membranes of all animal tissues.(1) Cholesterol plays many important roles in the body including being required for cell membrane construction, manufacturing bile, metabolizing fat soluble vitamins, and is a major precursor of the various steroid hormones produced in the body. The problem lies in too much cholesterol, or specifically, too much LDL. Enter statins.

Statins are hypolipidemic drugs that lower cholesterol through inhibition of the enzyme HMG-CoA reductase. HMG-CoA reductase is the rate-limiting enzyme (like the neck of a funnel) that, when reduced, cause the liver cells to make more LDL receptors.(2) This allows for an increased clearance of LDL from the bloodstream. While there is controversy regarding whether statins are as safe or effective as suggested, new evidence suggests that a simple dietary change can mimic the cholesterol-lowering benefits.

New research published in November of 2007 at the University of Connecticut indicates that a diet low in carbs with a cholesterol challenge (addition) of 640 mg per day, or 3 eggs worth, significantly reduces HMG-CoA reductase, mimicking statins. According to the researchers, “The findings indicate that dietary cholesterol during a weight loss intervention alters the expression of genes regulating cholesterol homeostasis.”(3) The same researchers later showed, in two separate studies, that adding cholesterol to a low carb diet raises HDL (4) and modulates inflammation in overweight individuals (5).

Now, those of us “drinking the paleo kool-aid” will find these studies further validation to what we already believe: eating a wide variety of foods in their natural packaging is best for health. Emerging information like this works well in showing those who are “on the fence” about switching to paleo eating, for fear of harm through increasing fat and cholesterol, that there are demonstrated health benefits to be gained. Next time I’m presented with the question, I’ll suggest paleo eating with at least 3 eggs a day.

Sources:
(1) Discovery of the Lipoproteins, Their Role in Fat Transport and Their Significance as Risk Factors
(2) The discovery and development of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors
(3) Carbohydrate restriction and dietary cholesterol modulate the expression of HMG-CoA reductase and the LDL receptor in mononuclear cells from adult men
(4) Dietary Cholesterol from Eggs Increases Plasma HDL Cholesterol in Overweight Men Consuming a Carbohydrate-Restricted Diet
(5) Eggs modulate the inflammatory response to carbohydrate restricted diets in overweight men.

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