Cholesterol is an essential building block of our cell membranes. A healthy body produces 80% of its own cholesterol, the rest is taken up from dietary sources.

Cholesterol is synthesized in the liver and is used mainly for three things:

• It is used for general housekeeping of the cells
• it is a starting molecule (precursor) for the synthesis of steroid hormones
• it is the main component of bile.

The role of bile
Bile is released into the upper part of the intestines and it plays a major role in helping us digest and absorb fat-soluble vitamins and nutrients. There is a signaling mechanism (feedback loop) between the gut, and the liver whereby the gut tells the liver how much bile it requires depending on the nutrients to be digested (among other factors).

When there is candida infection in the gut dietary cholesterol is converted into a molecule very similar to bile that skews the input to the feedback loop. The liver gets a signal that there is plenty of bile, no need for more, after which the unneeded cholesterol is released into the bloodstream.

Bile is broken down in the intestine by beneficial bacteria. When these are destroyed (by antibiotics) bile can damage the intestinal mucus (contributing further to leakiness) and the unbroken bile also sends a signal to the liver that there is no need for more.

This is only one mechanism by which candida can contribute to hyperlipidemia. Damage to the liver by free radicals (which most often also accompanies candidiasis) is also likely to play a role.

Candida overgrowth and malabsorption
As mentioned before, Candida overgrowth often contributes to malabsorption (decreased nutrient uptake) as well, a problem that can lead to vitamin and mineral deficiencies deficiencies that in turn can affect a large number of enzymatic functions throughout the body. One of the most notable deficiencies is in copper, which is required for phospholipid synthesis.

Symptoms of copper deficiency include general weakness, impaired respiration, skin sores, decreased immune function, elevated LDL cholesterol and reduced HDL cholesterol. Namely, symptoms characteristic of hyperlipidemia.

High cholesterol and ThreeLac
ThreeLac was originally developed in Japan to address the problem of high cholesterol that is becoming a widespread problem because of dietary changes. The main bacterial component of ThreeLac is Lactobacillus sporogenes, a bacterium that has been used in clinical trials to treat high cholesterol and dysbiosis. We could not find enough information to explain the mechanism by which it affects cholesterol levels or give the reason why it is so much more effective than other probiotics (link to appropriate subsection on treatments page) but empirical evidence very strongly supports its use in the treatment link to treatments page of hyperlipidemia.

References:

Anonymus. Lactobacillus sporogenes. Altern Med Rev. 2002 Aug; 7(4): 340-2.

Preliminary observations on effect of Lactobacillus sporogenes on serum lipid levels in hypercholesterolemic patients. Mohan JC, Arora R, Khalilullah M. Indian J Med Res. 1990 Dec;92:431-2.

Short term hypolipidemic effects of oral lactobacillus sporogenes therapy in patients with primary dyslipidemias. Mohan JC, Arora R, Khalilullah M. Indian Heart J. 1990 Sep-Oct;42(5):361-4.

Links to websites with further information are found on our Links page. Of particular interest is the link to Dr. Takahashi's field studies, that contains testimonials from clinical case studies of ThreeLac. (link to products page)