Cholesterol Reduction Timeline
How long after making dietary changes can I expect to see a drop in my cholesterol level?
A: It usually takes about four to six weeks, but it’s possible to see a change in as little as three weeks, says Dr. James Cleeman of the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) at the National Institutes of Health. If you’ve made dietary changes to lower your cholesterol, the NCEP recommends that you get your numbers rechecked after six weeks.
The primary goal is to lower LDL (“bad”) cholesterol. How long this takes depends on what your diet was like beforehand, what changes you make, and how well you stick to the new diet. There’s also a genetic component, and some people are more responsive than others to the same diet. A small number of people don’t respond at all.
Keep in mind that your cholesterol readings can vary somewhat from one test to the next due to normal day-to-day fluctuations and lab imprecision. So if you don’t see much reduction after six weeks, don’t be discouraged. Continue making dietary changes and get tested again in another six weeks. If you don’t reach your LDL goal at that point, you may need cholesterol-lowering drugs.
The best way to modify your diet is to make small changes gradually. Initially focus on reducing saturated fats and dietary cholesterol. You can also boost soluble fiber (in oats, psyllium, legumes, corn, and apples, for example) and later add plant stanols/sterols (as in special margarines and other sources) if necessary. A registered dietitian or other qualified nutritionist can help.
According to the NCEP, reducing saturated fat and dietary cholesterol can lower LDL by 10 to 15%. Adding in other dietary changes, along with weight loss, may bring about a cumulative 20 to 30% drop in LDL—about what many people get from cholesterol-lowering drugs.
A: It usually takes about four to six weeks, but it’s possible to see a change in as little as three weeks, says Dr. James Cleeman of the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) at the National Institutes of Health. If you’ve made dietary changes to lower your cholesterol, the NCEP recommends that you get your numbers rechecked after six weeks.
The primary goal is to lower LDL (“bad”) cholesterol. How long this takes depends on what your diet was like beforehand, what changes you make, and how well you stick to the new diet. There’s also a genetic component, and some people are more responsive than others to the same diet. A small number of people don’t respond at all.
Keep in mind that your cholesterol readings can vary somewhat from one test to the next due to normal day-to-day fluctuations and lab imprecision. So if you don’t see much reduction after six weeks, don’t be discouraged. Continue making dietary changes and get tested again in another six weeks. If you don’t reach your LDL goal at that point, you may need cholesterol-lowering drugs.
The best way to modify your diet is to make small changes gradually. Initially focus on reducing saturated fats and dietary cholesterol. You can also boost soluble fiber (in oats, psyllium, legumes, corn, and apples, for example) and later add plant stanols/sterols (as in special margarines and other sources) if necessary. A registered dietitian or other qualified nutritionist can help.
According to the NCEP, reducing saturated fat and dietary cholesterol can lower LDL by 10 to 15%. Adding in other dietary changes, along with weight loss, may bring about a cumulative 20 to 30% drop in LDL—about what many people get from cholesterol-lowering drugs.
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