Tendon xanthomas are cholesterol molecules in the tendons that slowly appear as subcutaneous nodules attached to the tendon or ligaments. The dorsal surface of the hand and the Achilles tendons are the two most commonly affected parts of the body. The presence of nodules has been confirmed as a clinical sign of familial hypercholesterolemia in various studies. Charlie Waugh, a researcher at the University of British Columbia and Queen Mary University in London, said: “Just as low-density lipoprotein, or LDL, builds up in blood vessels, the same type of cholesterol can build up in the blood. READ MORE: High cholesterol: Eggplant and okra seem to help reduce levels by up to “30 percent” “These accumulations lead to pain, restrict mobility or even cause the tendon to rupture. “Although we know there is a link between high cholesterol and tendon injury, we do not know the reasons for this association. “Our goal is to improve our understanding of how high cholesterol affects the health, healing and function of the tendons.” Using a rat model, Charlie Waugh and her team found that tendon health was significantly affected by the presence of lipids. DON’T MISS: The scientist also found that the tendons of rats with high cholesterol healed differently from those of rodents with low cholesterol, according to the Community Research and Development Information Service (CORDIS). Waugh noted: “Our original plan was to use human tissue left over from tendon surgery, but we quickly found that this was inappropriate for examining the questions we have. “We had the same problem with the corpse material, which was our backup plan. “We have shown that tendon cells in environments with high cholesterol behave differently, exhibiting inferior wound healing characteristics and expressing a different matte of genes in inflammatory and repair processes.” Rodents in the high-cholesterol group also showed strong signs of tension in their Achilles tendon, putting them at risk for stress-related injury.
How to lower cholesterol levels
High cholesterol levels require significant lifestyle changes, but diet is arguably the most important. According to Kathy McManus, director of the Nutrition Department at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, self-deprivation is not the answer. The goal is to focus on foods that boost good cholesterol levels, which hold the power to lower bad cholesterol levels. Good cholesterol, medically known as high-density lipoprotein, helps rid the body of excess cholesterol, so it is less likely to build up in your arteries. Different foods lower cholesterol in different ways, but some of the most effective include soluble fiber, which pulls harmful lipids out of the body. Studies have also shown that diets that include oats, almonds, soy and plant sterols significantly lower cholesterol in weeks.
