Why fast before a cholesterol check? Seems like it will show the levels lower than normal ?
.skjceuafrepiuahfpoefhpieuaf asked:
When we have food in system is cholesterol higher than the fasting level??
Vitamin K
When we have food in system is cholesterol higher than the fasting level??
Vitamin K
November 22nd, 2008 at 8:21 am
Maybe because it isolates your natural level of cholesterol, instead of the level when it’s elevated by food cholesterol?
November 23rd, 2008 at 8:19 pm
Yes, but most cholesterol is manufactured by the body - the levels coming from diet are only a small percentage.
November 24th, 2008 at 6:00 am
Your doctor prescribes more than just your cholesterol. He’s probably checking your blood glucose and liver enzymes as well.
November 25th, 2008 at 4:04 pm
A fasting cholesterol is really a baseline of total cholesterol in the body.
According to the American Heart Association:
Cholesterol comes from two sources: your body and food. Your liver and other cells in your body make about 75 percent of blood cholesterol. The other 25 percent comes from the foods you eat.
So what you eat is a significant contributor to your overall cholesterol intake.
If you have your blood drawn while you are not fasting, you will measure the dietary cholesterol rather than your baseline metabolic cholesterol level. Thats the difference.
Any you are exactly correct, the fasting level should be somewhat lower. It becomes a reference point that the doctor can diagnose and treat from if necessary.
In addition, when you fast, you stabilize the values of the HDL and LDL (Cholesterol and triglyceride transport proteins in the blood).
Again, the idea is to get a baseline without dietary interference.