Elevated Cholesterol And Celiac Disease

[cblack]

Can anyone tell me if elevated cholesterol is a byproduct of celiac disease? I have never had high cholesterol, but in doing routine bloodwork, my cholesterol and liver enzymes are high. Follow up bloodwork showed cholesterol even higher than before, but liver enzymes back to normal. I have not been diagnosed with celiac disease yet, however, I have been doing a lot of research and think that I may well have it after years of digestive problems that don't go away. I am currently still eating a gluten diet until I get diagnosis, but was curious if high cholesterol has been connected to celiac disease.

[AmyT]

I am a 40 year old female and for many many years my cholesterol has been high, I always get the lecture blah blah blah. I am 5'4" and weight 120lbs, exercise a lot and don't eat much. I love getting the lecture from the nurse who is overweight and sits around all day! It's so frustrating. High Cholesterol runs in the family, but who knows, I think most of my family has undiagnosed gluten sensitivity on both sides of my family. It has been a super struggle to overcome the cholesterol issue. My triglycerides are low, my HDL is good if not great but my LDL is very high, therefore bringing my cholesterol to 213. However, my dr. isn't too concerned because of the new outlook on the ratios. He did bring up statins a year or two ago and I said "no way!"

Having just self discovered my gluten sensitivity and spending many many hours researching all I can on its effects, I know my cholesterol will go down. My doctor said in a snotty tone "your cholesterol will go down in any elimination diet."

Well, cholesterol is released by the liver to protect the body from inflammation, that is why drs. are so concerned about inflammation and the heart/veins etc. What they don't know is where the inflammation is coming from. It is coming form the inflamed digestive system!!!!!!!!! Your body doesn't discriminate about inflammation. It just releases cholesterol to help protect your self. So that is one part of it.

Another issue with cholesterol is the thyroid. Celiac affects the thyroid and the Hypothyroid aka Hashimoto's can cause elevated LDL. That is what I believe I have. I have been 8 weeks gluten free and I have an order to get my cholesterol checked and thyroid checked but I want to wait a couple more weeks. I have been eating more eggs and avocados so who knows. I am debunking all "conventional wisdom" and going back to simple foods. No processed garbage and only food that God put on this earth. That's what it's here for.

I'd be interested to know about your findings. I will post back re: my blood work in a few weeks! I am looking forward to seeing if just 10 weeks or so is going to make a difference. I really hope so.

Take care.

[tarnalberry]

It could be related, but doesn't have to be.

My cholesterol has always been... let's just say enviable. I'm only 31, so perhaps that will be changing in the years ahead, but I've never had much trouble with it. My husband's family has much more difficulty with maintaining good cholesterol numbers, but there's no particularly good reason to think his father's side of the family (where the problem is) has celiac disease.

[gf-soph]

Hi

I'm not sure whether high cholesterol has a recognised link to celiac, but I have had above normal cholesterol for a couple of years. I am 25, a lifelong vegetarian, can't tolerate fatty food, and am within the normal weight range (though slightly on the higher end).

I've never been able to figure out where it came from, but it did decline slightly of it's own accord after going gluten free - it's now in the normal range.

I'm interested in the idea that it may be related to inflammation, as I have had high measures of general inflammation, without it being pinned down to anything.

Hope you find some answers with your testing, it can be a complicated process. As you'll probably see here, a lot of people who test negative can still see a big improvement on the gluten free diet. Good luck!

[Cristi]

I am a 40 year old female and for many many years my cholesterol has been high, I always get the lecture blah blah blah. I am 5'4" and weight 120lbs, exercise a lot and don't eat much. I love getting the lecture from the nurse who is overweight and sits around all day! It's so frustrating. High Cholesterol runs in the family, but who knows, I think most of my family has undiagnosed gluten sensitivity on both sides of my family. It has been a super struggle to overcome the cholesterol issue. My triglycerides are low, my HDL is good if not great but my LDL is very high, therefore bringing my cholesterol to 213. However, my dr. isn't too concerned because of the new outlook on the ratios. He did bring up statins a year or two ago and I said "no way!"

Having just self discovered my gluten sensitivity and spending many many hours researching all I can on its effects, I know my cholesterol will go down. My doctor said in a snotty tone "your cholesterol will go down in any elimination diet."

Well, cholesterol is released by the liver to protect the body from inflammation, that is why drs. are so concerned about inflammation and the heart/veins etc. What they don't know is where the inflammation is coming from. It is coming form the inflamed digestive system!!!!!!!!! Your body doesn't discriminate about inflammation. It just releases cholesterol to help protect your self. So that is one part of it.

Another issue with cholesterol is the thyroid. Celiac affects the thyroid and the Hypothyroid aka Hashimoto's can cause elevated LDL. That is what I believe I have. I have been 8 weeks gluten free and I have an order to get my cholesterol checked and thyroid checked but I want to wait a couple more weeks. I have been eating more eggs and avocados so who knows. I am debunking all "conventional wisdom" and going back to simple foods. No processed garbage and only food that God put on this earth. That's what it's here for.

I'd be interested to know about your findings. I will post back re: my blood work in a few weeks! I am looking forward to seeing if just 10 weeks or so is going to make a difference. I really hope so.

Take care.

Amy, thank you for posting the info.on cholesterol and thyroid and how it might be connected to Celiac. It was just what I needed to see, so many questions and feel so alone. I was diagnosed

with Celiac last year but did not take it serious enough until I had no choice, now I am having problems with my cholesterol and my thyroid. Your blog was just what I needed to see.