People with high levels of LDL (low-density) cholesterol can often be found around people due to westernized eating and lifestyle habits. LDL cholesterol is “bad” cholesterol that hardens blood vessels without removing oil from the body, which is the main cause of cardiovascular disease.
In the past, the LDL cholesterol level in Western countries such as the United States and Europe was remarkably high, but is it still the same? Scientific American, a US health information site, introduced the trend of changes in average LDL cholesterol levels over 38 years according to income gaps by country.
Professor Majid Ezati’s research team at Imperial College London analyzed how the average LDL cholesterol level of the country’s population changed from 1980 to 2018 through 1,127 studies of 112.6 million people worldwide.
The average LDL cholesterol level of the population of high-income Western countries such as Finland, Belgium, the United States, Iceland, and Singapore has decreased significantly compared to the past, and that of the population of low- and middle-income countries such as Malaysia, Laos, Cambodia, Nigeria and Malawi, Southeast Asia, and Africa. The average LDL cholesterol level showed a high increase, the researchers said.
Professor Ezard’s research team cited the reduction of saturated fat consumption and the activation of lipid-lowering drugs that suppress LDL cholesterol in blood vessels as the main reasons for the decrease in the average level of LDL cholesterol in high-income Western countries. On the other hand, in low- and middle-income countries, increased intake of saturated fat and inactive use of lipid-lowering drugs were the reasons for the increase in average LDL cholesterol levels.
In Hydak Health Q&A, exercise expert Kim Yun-jeong said, “To lower LDL cholesterol levels, you can use aerobic exercise such as fast walking, running, climbing stairs, swimming, biking, badminton, and exercise using light dumbbells or elastic bands, squats, lunges, and crunch. It is recommended to exercise at least once every two days in parallel with strength training.”
The study was published in the British scientific journal Nature.
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