Cholesterol levels are extremely important factors with regard to cardiovascular disease risks such as heart attacks, strokes, or aneurisms. The most important measure of cardiovascular disease is LDL cholesterol. The ideal LDL level is 80. The higher the LDL is above 80, the greater the risk for cardiovascular conditions.
However, steroid hormones that the body needs are also derived from LDL cholesterol, so if LDL level is below 80, there is less base available for the body to make hormones such as DHEA or pregnenolone or any of the cascade of hormones more specialized in form such as testosterone, estrogen, estradiol, etc.
HDL cholesterol is the second most important risk factor. HDL should be above 45 for further optimal cardiovascular protection.
Triglycerides, the third commonly evaluated lipid, has no effect on cardiovascular risk, but the level should be kept below 150, since higher readings increase the risk of pancreatitis; this contributes to conditions such as Type II diabetes and metabolic problems.
In a recent publication of the American Heart Association, as DHEA levels rise, risks of heart failure decline. Low DHEA levels are associated with increased occurrence of cardiac infarction, while increased DHEA levels are beneficial to the entire cardiovascular system and appear to delay the risks of cardiovascular problems.
Twist 25 transdermal DHEA supplement cream is the best product I know of to help maintain healthy DHEA levels.
John R. Woodward, MD
Medical City Dallas
972-566-7870
