A diet rich in cholesterol or saturated fat tends to raise blood cholesterol (LDL). A diet which is rich in carbohydrates, or excessive alcohol intake, may result in increased levels of VLDL (very low density lipoprotein).
For treating hypercholesterolemia, secondary causes need to be taken care of. Diabetes should be treated. In hypothyroidism, the cholesterol levels are automatically reduced when hypothyroidism is treated.
Patients with high cholesterol should be given a fat-modified diet. Thereafter, drug therapy may be started.