The liver is central to the metabolism of cholesterol because it produces and regulates proteins that traffic cholesterol in the body. Cholesterol elevation may be due to congenital reasons, abnormal metabolism, or a result of excessive intake of fats; elevated cholesterol must be addressed, but with attention to the liver since several anti-cholesterol medications elevate liver enzymes.
Liver
The liver is necessary for life. All nutrients absorbed from the intestines are first sent to the liver for processing. The hepatocytes, or liver cells, are the functional units of the liver; they are responsible for inactivating or breaking down toxins in the blood. Certain drugs are inactivated in the liver; in some cases, they overwhelm and damage hepatocytes. Damaged hepatocytes release their enzymes, thereby, causing an elevation of liver enzymes in the blood.
Cholesterol Transport
Cholesterol is transported by lipoproteins, which are introduced to the body most commonly from diet, but are produced, to a lesser extent, by the liver. HDL cholesterol and LDL cholesterol are the two main lipoproteins that affect cholesterol levels in the blood. HDL cholesterol is referred to as the "good" cholesterol, since it removes cholesterol from the blood. LDL cholesterol is referred to as the "bad" cholesterol because it deposits cholesterol as it travels through the bloodstream.
High Cholesterol
Cholesterol is necessary for a cell to work because the components of the cell membrane are made from cholesterol. Foods that elevate cholesterol are usually high in saturated fats, trans-fats and cholesterol. Some foods that elevate cholesterol in blood include doughnuts, french fries, milk, cream, cheeses and butter.
Anti-cholesterol Medications
Statins are a class of drugs that inhibit HMG-CoA reductase, a critical enzyme involved in the synthesis of cholesterol; they are the most effective and most prescribed anti-cholesterol medications to date. Statins, such as simvastatin, pravastatin and lovastatin, can potentially cause elevation in liver enzymes, an indicator for liver irritation. Muscle pain is a common adverse effect of statin use. Niacin and gemifibrozil are other anti-cholesterol medications that can cause elevation in liver enzymes.
