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Information on Cholesterol Crystal Formation

High cholesterol leads to heart disease and other medical conditions such as gallstones. The development of these diseases involves crystallization of cholesterol. As cholesterol crystallizes, it builds up in blood vessel walls and collects into stones in the gall bladder. A few key changes in your diet can help minimize cholesterol formation and, hopefully, let you avoid cholesterol-related diseases.

  1. The Effect of Oxidation and High Blood Sugar

    • Everyone it seems takes nutritional supplements with antioxidants, and for many good reasons. According to Dr. Y. Self-Medlin, in a study published in June 2009 in Biochimica et Biophysica Acta, high blood sugar levels can damage the lining of your blood vessels and increase cholesterol crystallization by oxidizing the fats in your blood. The effect will be worse if your cholesterol is also high. The study found that antioxidants helped prevent cholesterol crystallization due to high blood sugar. It stands to reason, though, that you should think about reducing your cholesterol and blood sugar if they are high.

    Cholesterol and Gallstone Formation

    • Three factors come together in the gall bladder, which makes bile to help metabolize fats in the diet, to cause cholesterol crystals and gallstone formation: A high concentration of cholesterol in the bile, a slowing in the movement of bile out of the gall bladder, and the rate at which crystals form. If your have high cholesterol, then you likely have a high amount of cholesterol in your bile, too. But Dr. A Mathur holds that carbohydrates in the diet affect the other two factors, increasing the risk of gallstones, with data published in May 2007 in the journal Surgery.

    The Role of Fish Oils

    • If you have high cholesterol, you probably have been told to eat more fish and perhaps also to take fish oil supplements. That's good advice. Fish oil has been shown to reduce the formation of cholesterol gallstones in animals and humans. It may be due to a beneficial effect of fish oil on cholesterol, but Dr. T.H. Magnuson says, in a September 1995 study in Surgery, that fish oil may also help prevent the process of gallstone formation in the gallbladder.

    Benefits of Cholesterol Medicines

    • Naturally, if you can get your cholesterol levels down, you would have less cholesterol to crystallize. The medicine ezetimibe reduces cholesterol absorption from the food you eat. The benefits of this medicine on cholesterol crystallization appear promising in animal studies but a good study in humans has yet to be published. The statins reduce cholesterol levels in the blood and in the bile and one at least, atorvastatin, has been shown to reduce cholesterol crystal formation in blood vessels according to an April 2006 study by Dr. R.P. Mason in the Journal of Biochemical Chemistry.

    Dietary Considerations

    • It would seem a good idea to reduce your intake of carbohydrates and eat only modest amounts of sugary or starchy food. Reducing your carb intake will keep your blood sugar normal and minimize the effect of carbs on the gall bladder. You should also eat more fish, or at least take fish oil supplements. And don't forget your antioxidants.

      So, cut back on the fries and chips, enjoy more salmon, and indulge in dark chocolate with a cup of green tea.

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