ALTERNATIVES TO
LOWERING CHOLESTEROL
Article by herbalist
Dave
Hawkins, MH, CNC
Recently, an article in the
Sunday health page of the Parkersburg News expounding the
benefits of statin drugs caught my attention. I believe
that regulating cholesterol is an important part of
regulating heart disease, and that the use of some
medications have their benefits.
However, the article
mentioned above could have provided details as to the
negative aspects of statin drugs. I would like to expand
upon this topic and present another approach using natural
products and lifestyle changes that can give long-term
benefits.
There is no doubt that
foremost for the prevention and treatment of heart disease
is the management of cholesterol. One cannot only look at
the overall cholesterol to make proper assessments. The
ratios of HDL to LDL is important, and the ratio of HDL to
total cholesterol, the ratio of cholesterol to total
triglycerides, the protective factors of homecysteine and
lipo-a factors, and the absence of inflammation all need to
be assessed to give a complete picture of a person's
cardiovascular risk.
Let's look a bit deeper into
these values.
HDL cholesterol is referred to as good
because it is being transported back to the liver for
processing. It protects the heart. Most standard test
values put the low range at 35 mg/dl. The higher this
number the more protective the factors. LDL cholesterol is
being transported to tissues, and higher levels are
considered to increase risk factors. The ratio of HDL to
LDL is one way of assessing if cholesterol is depositing
into tissues or being broken down properly.
Of course, we know that
dietary factors influence our cholesterol levels. Six
guidelines are recommend by the U.S. Surgeon General and
the American Heart Association:
-
Reduce total fat intake
to less than 30 percent of total calories
-
Eat five or more
servings of fresh vegetables and fruits daily
-
Increase fiber intake
-
Maintain protein intake
at moderate levels
-
Balance food intake with
exercise
-
Limit the intake of
alcohol, refined carbohydrates, and salt
The main problem with us
Americans is that we find it difficult to adopt a healthy
lifestyle and would prefer to eat "junk" food and take
medicines no matter the cost physically and to the
pocketbook. This is where drugs like the statin family are
being promoted.
Let's look at this class of
medications.
You might be familiar with Lipitor, Mevacor,
Pravachol, and Zocor. These are players in the statin
family. They are classed as HMG Co A reductase inhibitors.
What does that mean?
These drugs inhibit the enzymes
required for the manufacture of cholesterol in the liver.
Doesn't sound so bad as a way to reduce cholesterol;
however, in preventing the enzymes from working, the statins block the manufacture of other substances necessary
for body functions.
One major nutrient important
in preventing heart disease is the enzyme Coq10. As stated
in a recent book The Drug Induced Nutrient Depletion
Handbook, and I quote "The so called statin drugs are
the prescription of choice for people with high
cholesterol. Statin drugs are generally safe and effective
for a limited time, but patients should be monitored for
possible adverse consequences of Coq10 reductions during
long-term use."
Other health problems associated with these
drugs are congestive heart failure, high blood pressure,
and low energy. It is recommend that liver enzymes be
checked regularly when using the statin family for long
periods of time.
If the goal of reducing
cholesterol is to prevent heart attacks, does it make sense
to deplete a major nutrient in the process that protects
the heart? Coq10 deficiency has been attributed to numerous
cardiac problems like angina, hypertension, mitral valve
prolapse, and congestive heart failure. Coq10 has shown
clinically to have beneficial effect on blood triglycerides
and cholesterol levels.
Let's look at a few other
nutrients that can be of benefit without negative side
effects. The first one being niacin. Niacin or B3 (a B
complex member) has long been used to lower
cholesterol
levels. It is recommended by the National Cholesterol
Education Program as the first "drug" of choice. Niacin was
the only substance to demonstrate a decreased mortality in
a project called the Coronary Drug Project.
Because of the
high levels used in the studies (1 gram three times an
day), it became evident that these dosage levels produced
side effects like extreme flushing, stomach irritation,
ulcers, liver damage, and fatigue. Straight niacin is no
longer recommended; however, another form that does not
have any negative side effects is called inositol
hexaniacinate or flush free niacin.
This form has been in
use for a long time in Europe. Niacin's ability to lower
cholesterol showed about a 20 percent decrease in overall
cholesterol with a 32 percent increase in HDL cholesterol.
Another of the B family is a
nutrient called pantethine. This is a derivative of
pantothenic acid. Pantothenic acid is the most important
component of CoA (coenzyme A) which is used to transport
fats to and from cells. Remember statin drugs and how they
inhibit CoA? Pantethine has been shown to lower cholesterol
levels by 20 percent, increase HDL by 23 percent, and lower
triglycerides by 32 percent.
Garlic and onion have
numerous benefits to the cardiovascular system. The
equivalent of one clove of garlic or one half an onion a
day has been shown to reduce overall cholesterol by 10-15
percent with a great benefit to the elevation of the HDL
cholesterol by as much as 30 percent.
The extract from the myrrh
tree called gum guggul has shown great results in lowering
overall cholesterol, elevating HDL, and lowering
triglycerides. Two compounds called guggulesterones are
responsible for these effects. These effects were noted
without dietary changes over a short period of time. One
nice thing about guggul is that there are no side effects,
and it is safe to use during pregnancy. Guggul has been
used in Ayurveda for thousands of years.
There is much research going
on in relation to cholesterol and heart disease. Of course,
lifestyle modifications are the best way to bring about
balance; however, each person is unique and must be
assessed individually.
Do research on your own if you are
interested in a natural approach and be sure to consult
with your health care practitioner.
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