My cholesterol level is over 500 without statins. This isn’t because I’m fat, I’m 5’8” and weigh 122. It isn’t because I eat fat. I don’t eat red meat, only poultry and fish.
It’s because of a genetic problem...my liver doesn’t metabolize cholesterol as it should. Before taking statins, I had a calcium screening test. High is 400, my score was 1,400. Because of this, I had to undergo 3 heart catherizations and have 4 stents.
I take 40 mg. of Crestor daily, along with fish oil, ubiquinol and other healthy heart supplements. My cholesterol is now around 200.
I’ve taken statins since 2008. Lipator gave me leg cramps. No problems with the Crestor.
My mother's cholesterol levels were extremely high. . . as are mine. She was said to suffer from hypercholesterolemia, with readings from 450 to over 600. Mine have been in that area. It is, as you say, genetic. My mother never took a statin in her life and lived to the ripe age of 95 ½! I cannot tell you anything about the cholesterol levels of her parents, but they each also lived to be over 95. . . as did their parents.
The good news for you is that the latest research shows that persons with the highest cholesterol have the longest longevity. . . contrary to expectations.
I too have undergone four heart catherizations, two balloon angioplasties, had a heart attack twenty years ago (for which one of the angioplasties was used), from which my cardiologists tell me I have completely recovered, and my veins and arteries are now completely clear.
Before I had the heart attack and before I found out what to do about it, my diet was atrocious. I was a carbohydrate addict.
My cholesterol levels are down to around 230 to 250, which I am quite happy with. I accomplished that be losing 154 pounds, and going on a low carb lifestyle, which includes lots of protein such as beef, chicken, etc. I also eat more fat than I have ever eaten before in my life, including real butter, whipped cream, cheese, etc. I am almost 6 feet tall, and where I once had a 54 inch waist, I now maintain a 40" waist and have been able (occasionlly) to get into 38" pants. If you had told me when I was a beached whale that someday i would be a trim 200-210, I would have said you were crazy. Because I have an extremely bad spine, where I once could truly be described as a couch potato, I don't do much exercise, just my usual work but I could be called a couch carrot. My daily meals include 60 grams of carbs only . . . and under 1000 calories.
THAT is what keeps my cholesterol down. I don't make much.
I've also followed the protocol to prevent plaque disease as outlined in the post from 2011 I posted on FR, although my mother and I were among those 10% of the population who naturally do not have any oral spirochetes in our mouths, but I am not going to take any chances.
Crestor works for me as well, only 20mg every other day.
None of the memory loss that other statin cause.