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STATIN DRUGS AND ALTERNATIVES
TO
LOWERING CHOLESTEROL
Article by herbalist David
Hawkins, MH, CNC
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.
The U.S. Surgeon
General and the American Heart Association recommend six
guidelines:
-
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 Co Q10. 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 Co Q10 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?
Co Q10 deficiency has been attributed to numerous
cardiac problems like angina, hypertension,
mitral valve
prolapse, and congestive heart failure.
Co Q10 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 a 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.
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%
decrease in overall cholesterol with a 32%
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%, increase HDL by
23%, and lower triglycerides by
32%.
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%
with a great benefit to the elevation of the HDL
cholesterol by as much as 30%.
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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