Other strategies for increasing HDL

In addition to the dietary strategies involving types of fats, phytosterol intake or reducing triglyceride levels, there are several other strategies that can help increase HDL cholesterol levels:

• Quit smoking. Stopping smoking can dramatically increase HDL cholesterol levels.
  
  
• Start a regular exercise program.
  
  
• Maintain a healthy weight.
  
  
• Drink alcohol in moderation (one serving daily for women or two drinks daily for men). Moderate alcohol use - especially red wine - may increase HDL cholesterol levels. However, individuals who do not drink alcohol are urged not to begin drinking for the supposed health benefits. Large quantities of alcohol have the opposite effect to moderate alcohol use and can cause damage to the heart muscle.
  
  
• Increasing intake of soluble fiber. Soluble fiber (oatmeal, citrus fruits, beans) lowers LDL (bad) cholesterol and is also thought to raise HDL cholesterol. However, the American Heart Association (AHA) advises that people eat both soluble and insoluble fiber as part of a heart healthy diet.

Studies of postmenopausal women have found that calcium supplements (calcium citrate) can increase HDL levels. This effect is attributed to calcium’s effect on the introduction of saturated fats into the bloodstream. Calcium is seen to enhance the release of these fats from the body as waste products. However more research in this area is needed before calcium can be recommended to increase HDL cholesterol levels. Always check with a physician first to see whether a particular over-the-counter drug or supplement is appropriate and safe to take.

If these strategies are unsuccessful, a physician may recommend medications that have shown to raise HDL levels, such as fibrates, nicotinic acid or some other cholesterol-reducing drugs, including statins.

Recent studies of medications specifically designed to raise HDL cholesterol have been disappointing. For example, one study with a drug called torcetrapib was shown to significantly increase HDL cholesterol, but, surprising, was also associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular events.