Diet, Lifestyle and Weight Regulation in Familial Hypercholesterolemia

Dear Colleagues,

Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is an inherited autosomal dominant metabolic disorder characterized by lifelong exposure to high cholesterol levels. Patients with familial hypercholesterolemia all have very high blood cholesterol levels. Its total cholesterol is about 7.0 mmol/L or above, while the bad cholesterol (LDL or LDL cholesterol) is about 5.0 mmol/L or above. In North America and other countries, total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol are about 270 and 190 mg/dL, respectively. Familial hypercholesterolemia can cause cholesterol to build up in the arteries, especially the coronary arteries of the heart, leading to early heart disease. If cholesterol levels are very high, it can also be deposited in the tendon, causing a lump or tendon thickening that may be seen or felt. In some patients, white crescents or rings may form around the cornea, or pale yellow cholesterol deposits may form on the eyelids. Additionally, the risk of heart disease is about 20 times higher than in the general population. Other coronary artery disease risk factors such as smoking, diabetes, high blood pressure, and obesity dramatically increase the risk of a heart attack in patients with familial hypercholesterolemia. Most people with familial hypercholesterolemia take statins (cholesterol-lowering) drugs and should follow a low-fat diet to lower their cholesterol.

Our aim is to provide an overview of the role of diet and lifestyle habits in the prevention and treatment of familial hypercholesterolemia from a nutritional perspective. We hope that through the dietary and nutritional management of patients with familial hypercholesterolemia, and the incidence of related diseases can be reduced.

This Special Issue of Nutrients, “Diet, Lifestyle and Weight Regulation in Familial Hypercholesterolemia“, aims to collect articles related to nutrition, dietary treatment and daily lifestyle management of familial hypercholesterolemia. We look forward to your contribution.

Dr. Mariann Harangi
Dr. Sándor Somodi
Guest Editors

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• familial hypercholesterolemia (FH)
• nutrition
• diet
• calory intake
• cholesterol
• lifestyle
• weight regulation
• adipokines, myokines