I was commenced on Atorvastatin 80mgs in October 2024 when my cholesterol level was 4.9.
Had an acute infection recently which resulted in some re-tests. My cholesterol is now 6.9.
I have probably eaten more cheese after listening to Zoe podcast that suggested fermented dairy products are good for you. I can't believe I have eaten so much more to cause the increase but maybe I'm kidding myself?
I've started a food diary but meanwhile has anyone else experienced such an increase that maybe they've associated with an infection, or maybe have been lulled into a false sense of security with taking large amounts of statin and gone for the cheese!
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CheeseLover26
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I had to smile! I am a big cheese lover and indeed this time last year I did a Lent Fast - meaning I ate no cheese at all during Lent.
I had my annual bloods done shortly afterwards and the cholesterol was exactly the same as the previous year. I’ll have the next annual test soon, have been overdosing a bit on the cheese, so we will see!
Are the HDL and LDL cholesterol numbers also a factor?
Ive had two cholesterol tests with the NHS and both were for total cholesterol only. No idea why when the BHF site that references cholesterol tests says you should have been given the additional numbers.
I got one via Superdrug online doctor and they do the HDL, LDL and triglycerides as well.
Full cholesterol test results now are now displayed in the NHS app. LDL levels are now seen as a marker of potential risk:
‘Why is LDL “bad cholesterol?”
LDL cholesterol has a reputation for being the “bad cholesterol.” This is because excess LDL cholesterol contributes to plaque buildup (atherosclerosis) in your arteries when your LDL level is high. This plaque buildup may lead to:
Coronary artery disease (affecting your heart)
Cerebrovascular disease (affecting your brain)
Peripheral artery disease (affecting your legs and arms)
Aortic aneurysm (affecting your aorta, your largest artery)
This is why healthcare providers encourage you to have a healthy level of LDL cholesterol.’
For some reason my doctor isn't asking for them. I got the results of the first blood test, they did loads of measures but for Cholesterol they only did total.
On the follow up they were only checking Cholesterol, not all the other stuff, and I asked can you check HDL, LDL etc and they advised Sorry no, your GP has only asked for Total Cholesterol. I'll ask why next time I'm there.
If you hear hooves it’s usually horses … I’d go with the mainstream science rather than that of Dim Sphincter who wants to sell his product. I’m sure your medical team didn’t advocate over eating cheese/fat to balance out a sugar spike. The normal working pancreas does a pretty good job to balance it out ?
Just a thought—sometimes an increase in cholesterol like that can be partly down to changes in carb intake, especially if you’ve followed NHS advice to reduce fat and increase wholegrains or carbs in general. That kind of diet can backfire for some people, especially if there’s any underlying insulin resistance (which many of us have without knowing).
I actually tried the standard NHS low-fat advice myself—and my LDL went up to 5.4. I then done some of my own research. Turns out low-fat doesn’t work for everyone, and in some people, cutting fat and increasing carbs (even so-called “healthy” ones) can raise triglycerides, lower HDL, and push LDL into a more atherogenic pattern. So it’s not always about the cheese!
Also worth noting: infections can temporarily raise cholesterol, especially LDL. It’s part of the body’s immune response—cholesterol is used in repair processes and immune signaling, so levels can spike during or shortly after being unwell. That may be a contributing factor in your case too, especially if the infection was still clearing when the bloods were done.
You’ve done a smart thing by starting a food diary. Keep an eye on trends over time rather than one result. For me, reducing processed carbs and adding back healthy fats (like olive oil, oily fish, eggs, and full-fat dairy) helped improve my overall blood markers, energy, and digestion.
Statins have their place, but diet and lifestyle still play a huge role. You’re definitely not alone in figuring this stuff out the hard way.
For reference, my latest results after lifestyle changes:
Total Cholesterol: 3.9
LDL: 2.1
HDL: 1.3
Triglycerides: 0.8
hs-CRP: 0.3 (very low inflammation)
Those numbers came with low-carb eating, regular exercise, and keeping stress in check—not by cutting all fat or eating ultra-processed “heart healthy” foods.
And just to add—if you do change your diet, it’s a good idea to keep an eye on your lipids and inflammation markers over time. Everyone reacts differently, and as they say:
Remember cholesterol doesn't just come from your diet (80% is made by your liver). It's how your body deals with it that matters. Scientists now think that some people manufacture more cholesterol than others- it's hereditary. But during some types of infection total cholesterol can increase as a response, especially to chronic inflammation. Get yours measured again once you're properly recovered, and it may have dropped again.
hi, I’m also a cheese lover but following a bad reaction to Artorvastatin my doctor advised I stop taking them. During the 3 months I was on them my cholesterol dropped to 3.0
Keen to avoid statins altogether I tried cutting out cheese entirely from my diet for 2 months. My cholesterol dropped from 5.4 ( pre statins ) to 4.7. Not a huge reduction but I’m planning to keep going, for me it’s worth it.
There was an audible groan in cardiac rehab when the cardiac nurse announced that the maximum daily recommended cheese intake was 30g, or about the size of a small matchbox! This was particularly bad news for me as a lover of a good Compté.
However, from a high of around 6, my cholesterol level is now 2.2, with LDL at 0.6, so I consider it worth the sacrifice. Possibly room for the extra piece every so often 🤔
As the nurse said, they aren't there to police the recommendations, the decisions are up to us. Don't know if that helps or gives any sort of incentive, but it's a small win I'm quite proud of.
I gave up cheese a year ago, and all (or as much as possible) of saturated fats. I find it irritating that fats like palm oil (saturated) are in many things.
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