Understanding how cholesterol works and how your diet affects it is one of the best things you can do to preserve your circulatory health. First identified as a pain medication, aspirin has long been recommended as one way for people to deal with high cholesterol. However, its effects aren't as closely associated with cholesterol as one might think.
Cholesterol Basics
High cholesterol refers to the presence of harmful low-density lipoprotein, or LDL , cholesterol. Cholesterol is a waxy substance that's vital to tissue health, but LDL tends to clump in your bloodstream and increase how hard your heart has to work. Your body makes LDL cholesterol in response to the presence of saturated fats in your diet.
Aspirin and Cholesterol
Dietary supplements affect cholesterol either by stimulating your body to produce it, or by influencing your body's ability to absorb substances that stimulate its production. Aspirin contains no fats, and thus it does not stimulate your cholesterol production. It also doesn't contain any compounds that affect fat absorption. In short, aspirin has no direct effect on your cholesterol levels.
Aspirin and Circulatory Health
Even if aspirin doesn't affect your body's production of cholesterol, it is possible that it mitigates the effects of cholesterol in your blood. According to MayoClinic.com, regular dosage of aspirin reduces the clumping of blood and LDL that is the source of cholesterol's harmful effects on your circulatory system. A University of Maryland Medical Center study, results of which were published in November 2000, found that daily aspirin reduced the risk of heart attack in 75 percent of patients with heart disease. However, the study found that aspirin did not help the other 25 percent.
High Cholesterol
The same study by the University of Maryland Medical Center found that subjects with cholesterol levels above 220 mg/dL actually benefited less from regular aspirin dosage than those with lower cholesterol levels. This means that aspirin is more effective for people at risk of developing high cholesterol than for people who already have high cholesterol.
Bottom Line
Aspirin has no effect on your cholesterol levels. However, it can help alleviate the health problems associated with high cholesterol, and it can help reduce your risk for circulatory illnesses and heart problems. As with any other medication, you should consult with your doctor before taking aspirin as a way to deal with your cholesterol.
References
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: High Cholesterol: Understand Your Risks
- University of Maryland Medical Center; High Cholsesterol Hinders the Effectiveness of Aspirin in Reducing Heart Disease Risk; November 2000
- MayoClinic.com; Daily Aspirin Therapy: Understand the Benefits and Risks; June 2010
