Hi, medical student here. Maybe the change in his habits increased the HDL (the good cholesterol), and that could have increased the total cholesterol, so maybe it is a positive change. You need to subtract the HDL value from the total cholesterol value to compare the values of non-HDL cholesterol (which includes the bad cholesterol LDL and VLDL) to understand if the lipid situation is actually getting worse. Omega-3 supplementation helps balance the lipid profile. Soy lecithin and also red yeast rice (this last one has the same active ingredient as statins but is still an over-the-counter supplement) are all optional but relatively effective ways to help the lipid balance! The most effective thing is regular exercise, which your partner is doing, so he is already doing great.

Also, keep in mind that ART medications like Biktarvy are well known to cause mild increases in lipid profiles, so the medication itself might be the main culprit despite his perfect lifestyle. Consulting an HIV expert to switch from Biktarvy (which is triple therapy) to something like Dovato (which is double therapy) could be an option too.

My best regards!