Lower Cholesterol Naturally
Better Cholesterol Management with Vitamins and Herbs
Your Cholesterol Questions Answered
What can be done if you've been told that you have "high cholesterol?" I've
been getting questions "in spades" this week, so it's time for a cholesterol
management update! Like Lennie who wrote "I would like to know what supplements
you recommend to lower LDL besides diet. I do not want to take statins. Thanks
for your news letter I do read it. Blessings, Lennie."
Perhaps your conventional doctor found your cholesterol levels to be "high"
(and there are differing opinions on what "too high" really is, because
cholesterol is only ONE of a number of heart risk factors). He or she has
probably advised you to start taking a "statin" drug. You will likely be sent
off with a prescription for the statin-de-jour along with a recommendation to
"eat less cholesterol and cut down on fats." If you do a little research, you
will discover that statin drugs have some worrisome side-effects, including
elevated liver enzymes (indicating liver distress) and rhabdomyelosis (muscle
damage; NOTE: the heart is a muscle). You might also see that there are dozens,
maybe even hundreds, of natural remedies, all claiming to be "the best" for
safely lowering cholesterol levels. We (Dr. Myatt and Nurse Mark) chuckle when
we get questions from Wellness Club members asking if we have heard about the
latest and greatest pill or potion or "cure" - we've heard 'em all and then
some!
While statin drugs are being marketed as the next best drug since
antibiotics, the dangers and expense of these drugs are rarely mentioned. All
the while, well-proven natural remedies exist to reduce LDL cholesterol levels,
total cholesterol levels, triglycerides and various other heart risk factors.
Along with proven natural remedies come another half-dozen substances that are
seen to be helpful but are not as well researched. And of course, as with all
other natural remedies, there are an entire array of poorly-researched, unproven
remedies that rely on anecdotal "patient success stories" in their glowingly
inflated sales pitches. Beware - these "also rans" aren't known to perform like
proven remedies and may leave you sorely disappointed with the results.
The Big Three Remedies for High Cholesterol
1.) Niacin The most well-studied natural agent for cholesterol improvement is
niacin, a B complex vitamin. Niacin's effect on cholesterol has been known since
the 1950's when it was found to be a highly effective cholesterol lowering
agent. Studies have shown that niacin not only lowers LDL cholesterol, but also
Lp(a), triglyceride, and fibrinogen (a blood protein that causes clot formation)
levels, while it simultaneously raises beneficial HDL cholesterol levels. The
Coronary Drug Project, an intensive and extensive evaluation of
cholesterol-lowering drugs demonstrated that niacin was the only
cholesterol-lowering agent that actually reduced overall mortality. Its effects
were also found to be long lived, protecting patients in the study years after
they had stopped taking it. Here is how niacin compares to cholesterol-lowering
drugs:
| Drug Class |
LDL |
HDL |
TG |
BAR's
(Bile Acid Resins) |
▼(decreased)
15-30% |
▲(increased)
3-5% |
+/- |
| Niacin |
▼(decreased)
5-25% |
▲(increased)
15-35% |
▼(decreased)
20-50%
|
| Statins |
▼(decreased)
18-60% |
▲(increased)
5-15% |
▼(decreased)
7-30%
|
| Fibric Acids |
▼(decreased)
5-20% |
▲(increased)
10-20% |
▼(decreased)
20-50% |
| Cholesterol Absorption Inhibitors |
▼(decreased)
20% |
+/- |
▼(decreased)
8%
|
Note that although statins can have a bigger impact on LDL cholesterol
levels, niacin is more effective at lowering tryglycerides and raising HDL (the
good cholesterol). Also be aware that cholesterol levels can be too low.
Cholesterol levels under 140 are associated with an increased risk of strokes.
Like any substance, high-dose niacin is not without cautions. It's side
effects are well known, the most common being a "niacin flush" - an
uncomfortable flushing or hot feeling experienced by some people after taking
standard niacin. Niacin can be toxic to the liver when taken in a "time release"
form that was developed to avoid the problem of the "niacin flush" that made
some patients reluctant to use it. Niacin can alter blood sugar control and so
should be used under medical supervision in people with diabetes. It is also
important to monitor both cholesterol levels and liver enzyme levels every three
months or so while using niacin, as with a statin drug. Dr. Myatt recommends a
form of niacin called inositol hexaniacinate, a No-Flush Niacin that is very
well tolerated.
If niacin is so great, why don't the drug companies sell it, and why doesn't
my doctor tell me to take it, you ask? Well, though the studies strongly
supports the use of niacin, it has also been victim of a lot of misinformation -
your doctor may be ill-informed about it's benefits, while he or she has
certainly been told all about the "benefits" of statins. Niacin is a widely
available "generic" substance, meaning it cannot be patented, and the drug
companies do not stand to make from it the massive profits that the other
cholesterol-lowering drugs have generated for them.
As a result, one rarely sees niacin advertised in the way that the expensive
statin drugs are. Still, niacin should be considered as the first choice in a
cholesterol-lowering treatment.
NOTE: If your doctor DOES prescribe niacin, it will most likely be the
pharmaceutical "timed release" version. Studies show that timed release niacin
is toxic to the liver and DOES NOT have better benefit than NON timed-release
formulas. DO NOT TAKE timed-release niacin for high cholesterol!
2.) Red Rice Yeast is next in importance. This substance is actually the
result of a fungus that grows on white rice, turning it a red color. It has been
known for centuries, and used as a colorant in oriental cuisine, and to make a
form of red sake (rice wine). The active component in Red Rice Yeast is a
compound called mevinolin, which is identical to the prescription drug,
lovastatin. The drug companies created lovastatin in the laboratory in 1987 also
using a fungus, Aspergillus terreus. The active ingredient in Red Rice Yeast was
discovered and isolated a decade earlier. Red Rice Yeast has been proven to be
just as effective as the modern statin drugs at lowering LDL cholesterol. Taken
in high doses, it can have some of the same risks as the modern statin drugs -
namely a risk of liver damage and also of rhabdomyolysis, a condition that
includes muscle deterioration.
Anyone taking this or any statin drug should have a baseline liver enzyme
check and have their liver enzymes checked at three months into treatment. But
risks are small (about 2%). The good news is that it is thought that there is a
synergistic effect obtained from other related compounds in Red Rice Yeast which
allows much smaller doses to be effective. A typical dose of a statin drug would
be in the range of 20-80mg/day while a typical dose of Red Rice Yeast would be
about 2.5-10mg/day. Neither Red Rice Yeast nor statin drugs should be taken with
grapefruit juice, as this can cause a dangerous buildup of the statin compounds
in the body.
Due to drug company pressure on the FDA, many Red Rice Yeast products have
been taken off the market because they contain--- guess what?--- the active
ingredient for lowering cholesterol! The FDA said that this made them a drug.
Statin drugs are now a 10+ billion dollar a year business for the drug companies
(statins are the biggest selling drug of all time), and I believe the they do
not want any competition from a natural remedy, especially one that works
successfully, has far less negative side effects, and can be taken for about 1/4
the monthly cost of the drug versions. Although the FDA has waffled back and
forth about Red Rice Yeast, it is still currently available and should be added
to your cholesterol-lowering program if niacin alone fails to help within 8
weeks OR if your total cholesterol is above 240 or your hs-CRP is elevated.
3.) CoQ10 is a naturally-occurring antioxidant produced in the human body. It
is vitally involved in energy production. CoQ10 functions as an "energizer" to
mitochondria, the body's energy producing units. Muscles, and the heart in
particular, have high requirements for CoQ10. Although CoQ10 is produced by the
body, age, nutrient deficiencies, disease and some medications can lower the
body's CoQ10 levels. Cholesterol-lowering drugs (statins) are known to deplete
CoQ10. (The original patent-holders of statins wanted to add CoQ10 to the drug
because of this known depletion; the FDA denied their request). Everyone taking
a statin drug should also be taking CoQ10. In fact, because CoQ10 is necessary
for normal heart function, I strongly recommend it's use for any type of heart
disease, including coronary artery disease, arrhythmia, high blood pressure and
as part of a cholesterol-lowering program.
Other Proven Cholesterol-Lowering Agents
Garlic is another well-known cholesterol-lowering agent is with a wide
spectrum of additional beneficial effects including blood pressure regulation,
effective antibiotic scope and potent immune stimulant. Here however we are
interested in garlic's proven ability to lower LDL cholesterol when taken in
appropriate doses of preparations that contains the the ingredient allicin.
Allicin is the product of the substance alliin and the enzyme alliinase, and is
fragile, dissipating quickly and easily during processing. A minimum therapeutic
intake of allicin is considered to be about 4000 mcg. That is the equivalent to
about one to four cloves of whole fresh garlic (depending on the size of the
clove.) It is true that simply eating garlic (and it's cousin onion) can have an
excellent effect for lowering LDL cholesterol, blood pressure, and blood
fibrinogen levels. Please remember that this effect is lost when garlic or onion
is cooked, as cooking quickly destroys the active ingredient allicin.
Anyone looking to buy garlic supplements should be aware of the German
Commission E, a panel of experts which sets standards for dosage requirements to
allow for therapeutic claims. Check the label to make sure the supplement you
are considering meets their standards for strength and purity.
Vitamin C has a well-studied positive effect on lowering total cholesterol
and triglyceride levels while raising beneficial HDL levels. Vitamin C
supplementation is valuable for many other reasons - it is an powerful
antioxidant, and an immune enhancer. If you are considering using higher doses
of vitamin C, use buffered vitamin C to avoid stomach upset. Also remember that
Dr. Myatt's Maxi-Multi contains 1,200 mg of this important vitamin when taken in
the recommended daily dose.
Fiber has a time-honored place in any cholesterol-lowering regimen. High
intakes of soluble fiber have been shown to lower both overall and LDL
cholesterol levels. Unfortunately, such high intakes of fiber can cause
gastrointestinal upset in many people, and this causes them to not take
effective doses. Psyllium and oat bran are two of the most-studied, and are
easily available to add to the diet. You should NOT take psyllium at the same
time you take the prescription drugs carbamazepine, lithium, digitalis or
nitrofurantoin because psyllium will decrease their absorption and
effectiveness. Another form of fiber that is demonstrating great promise as a
cholesterol-lowering aid is chitosan which is a substance made from the shells
of shellfish. Chitosan has the effect of binding fat and cholesterol in the
digestive tract. It is so effective at this that it will absorb as much as seven
to eight times it's own weight in fat and bile which are then passed through the
bowel and excreted. Because of it's fat-binding ability, chitosan is valuable as
a weight loss aid as well as a cholesterol-normalizing agent. There are just a
couple of caveats regarding chitosan: first, like any other fiber, chitosan can
interfere with the absorption of certain nutrients and trace minerals. These
should be taken at times other than when chitosan when is taken. Secondly,
because chitosan is derived from the exoskeletons (shells) of shellfish, people
with seafood allergies should use caution.
The above list is the top half-dozen, proven, tested, effective
cholesterol-lowering supplements and agents. They are not the only things in our
armamentarium (that's a medical word for "bag of tricks"!) though. Some of the
"lesser lights" are not as well proven, or not as specifically effective at
lowering cholesterol, but they may still be very valuable as a part of a
coordinated cholesterol-lowering and health improving plan.
More Cholesterol-Lowering Substances
Artichoke has been studied since the 1930's and found to have excellent
effects on both atherosclerotic plaque and cholesterol and LDL levels. It is
also highly protective, and may even be regenerative to the liver. It also
possesses antioxidant properties. It is a valuable addition to a person's daily
supplementation. Dr. Myatt makes this available in combination with Milk Thistle
which is a potent liver protector with regenerative properties and a powerful
antioxidant and Turmeric which is a marvelous anti-inflammatory, antioxidant,
liver-protective (on a par with milk thistle), anti-tumorgenic herb that also
helps maintain normal blood viscosity. My Milk Thistle Plus+ Formula combines
all three of these herbs for a powerful liver-enhancing effect.
Turmeric has been shown in a number of studies to have cholesterol-lowering
effects of it's own. This, in addition to it's other benefits as described above
make it a "must do" in any daily supplementation program. Turmeric also inhibits
platelet aggregation (med-speak for blood clotting) and serves as a natural
cox-2 inhibitor like the prescription drug Vioxx.
Gugulipid is an ancient remedy that is being "rediscovered" by the western
medical establishment. Gugulipid is made from the resin of the commiphora mukul
tree of north central India and has been used for thousands of years to
alleviate problems associated with obesity, acne, viral infections, and other
ailments. It has also been shown in some limited but significant studies to
reduce cholesterol and LDL levels and increase HDL levels within three to four
weeks. It is certainly worth considering adding this to a cholesterol-lowering
regimen.
Green Tea has also been the subject of some promising and even exciting
research. Green tea serves as a potent antioxidant, preventing the oxidation of LDL in the arteries. The cholesterol-lowering effects of Green tea have been
shown in numerous animal and human studies. Green tea catechins act to limit the
rise in blood cholesterol according to a 1996 Japanese study. Further, Green tea
has been shown to elevate HDL, and serves as a natural ACE inhibitor, lowering
blood pressure. These benefits can be obtained by drinking up to 10 cups of
Green tea daily, or taking one to two capsules of Green tea extract daily.
Fish Oil has been shown to reduce high levels of triglycerides by an average
of 35%. It does not appear to reduce cholesterol to that extent, but it does
offer benefits when as part of an integrated therapy program. Scientific studies
have demonstrated that alpha-linolenic acid (from flax or perilla oil) reduces
the incidence of atherosclerosis, stroke, and second heart attacks. One study
showed a 70% reduction in second heart attacks in those consuming this type of
fatty acid.
Vitamin E protects us from more than 80 diseases and illnesses, including
protecting us from the inhibiting the effects of oxidation of LDL and the
development of atherosclerotic disease. Studies have also shown it to be
effective as some hypocholesterolemic (cholesterol-lowering) drugs. Anyone
considering adding vitamin E to their regimen should also add Selenium which
works with vitamin E to prevent LDL oxidation. Both of these nutrients are found
in Dr. Myatt's Maxi-Multi.
Policosanol refers to a group of eight solid alcohols derived from sugar cane
wax. Octacosanol is the major constituent of policosanol and proponents of this
substance claim that Octacosanol is remarkably safe and effective at reducing
cholesterol levels, and at reducing platelet aggregation. Current supplies are
from Cuba and, in my opinion, too expensive. As the price comes down and the
research some up, this may prove to be a worthy cholesterol-lowering agent. (The
research would have to be VAST to surpass niacin, however).
Finally, Soy has been shown to confer numerous benefits through it's isoflavones - genistein, daidzein, and glycitein. According to a study completed
in 1997, "Potential mechanisms by which soy isoflavones might prevent
atherosclerosis include a beneficial effect on plasma lipid concentrations,
antioxidant effects, antiproliferative and antimigratory effects on smooth
muscle cells, effects on thrombus formation, and maintenance of normal vascular
reactivity." Bottom line: if you want to reduce your risk of heart disease and
elevated cholesterol levels, it is worth adding soy to your diet.
Unproven Cholesterol "Cures"
We've talked about the proven first line remedies and the second line "helpfuls,"
now let's talk about some substances that have been touted without proof to back
them up.
Coral Calcium - promoted as the cure for every thing from cancer to high
cholesterol to bad breath to spiritual weakness. Many of it's top promoters are
facing criminal prosecution. Avoid it. Not only does coral calcium often contain
high lead levels, it is destructive to the coral reefs where it is derived.
Calcium alone is not a proven cholesterol-lowering remedy; neither is coral
calcium. If you need additional calcium/magnesium/bone nutrients, consider
taking Cal-Mag Amino.
Various teas have been touted as total cholesterol cures, no doubt riding on
the coattails of accepted Green Tea studies. Don't believe them - Green Tea is
an important part of a cholesterol-control program, but teas are not the whole
answer!
Cinnamon capsules have recently been promoted as a cholesterol-reducing
agent. We are not aware of any solid studies to support this. Cinnamon does seem
to have a beneficial effect on blood sugar levels of type II diabetics though.
The capsules seem a bit expensive, when you can simply add this spice to your
food and beverages - try it in tea!
Vinegar, and most especially apple cider vinegar, have also enjoyed some
popularity as folk remedies for high cholesterol. Again, there is no scientific
evidence of beneficial effect - though "anecdotal evidence" of the "my best
friend's great aunt's late husband used it every day 'till he died" variety is
plentiful...
Beyond Supplements and Drugs: Live a "Good Cholesterol Lifestyle"
No cholesterol-lowering program would be complete without a discussion of
diet. Instead of dire warnings and restrictive regimes that drastically limit
fat intake, Dr. Myatt puts her patients on The Super Fast Diet for cholesterol
control. Her patients find this to be a rich, balanced, satisfying diet, and
they are pleasantly surprised to find that not only do their cholesterol levels
normalize in short order, but so does their weight. This nutrient-rich diet has
people feeling better, looking better, and performing better, and their lab
results are the proof of it's effectiveness.
Your Personal Cholesterol-Lowering Protocol
For more information and dosage recommendations for natural cholesterol
lowering remedies, please visit
The Wellness Club website
here: High Cholesterol Protocol http://www.DoctorMyatt.com/cholesterol.htm
High cholesterol is a correctable dietary problem, not a statin drug
deficiency! You can improve your cardiovascular risk far better by correcting
underlying problems than by taking a liver-function-blocking drug. Why settle
for a Band-Aid when a CURE is available?!
|
