Choosing a Cholesterol Supplement – Top Ingredients for Cholesterol
When your doctor says that your cholesterol level is too high and simply changing your diet or lifestyle won’t work. Taking in cholesterol lowering supplements, are usually prescribed. Now the question is, what ingredients should we look for on different cholesterol supplements labels available in the market today?
Here are some tips on checking for top ingredients to control your high cholesterol:
Coenzyme Q10
Coenzyme Q10 (Co Q10) is produced by the human body and is necessary for basic cell function. Co Q10 functions as an antioxidant. Co Q10 is naturally present in small amounts in a variety of foods, but is particularly high in organ meats such as heart, liver and kidney, as well as beef, soy oil, sardines, mackerel, and peanuts. Co Q10 is synthesized in all tissues and healthy individuals normal levels are maintained both by Co Q10 intake and by Co Q10 synthesis. It has no known toxicity or side effects. Co Q10 levels decrease with age and are generally low in patients with certain chronic diseases including heart conditions, muscular dystrophies, Parkinson’s disease, cancer, diabetes, and HIV/AIDS. Some prescription drugs can also lower Co Q10 levels. Levels of Co Q10 in the body can be increased by taking Co Q10 supplements
Red Yeast Rice
Red Rice Yeast has been used in China for centuries as both a food and as a medicinal substance. It is made by fermenting a type of yeast called Monascus purpureus over red rice. In Chinese medicine, red yeast rice is used to promote blood circulation, soothe upset stomach, and invigorate the function of the spleen, a body organ that destroys old blood cells and filters foreign substances. Red Yeast Rice forms naturally occurring HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors known as monacolins. The medicinal properties of red yeast rice favorably impact lipid profiles of people with high cholesterol (hypercholesterolemic patients). Other active ingredients in red yeast rice include sterols, isoflavones, and monounsaturated fatty acids.
Policosanol
Policosanol belongs to a family of wax-like phytochemicals prevalent throughout nature. This substance is used in the dietary supplement industry sourced from several foods that include: sugar cane, rice bran, beeswax, broccoli, spinach, alfalfa and oats. Policosanol is a hypocholesterolemic compound that protects LDL cholesterol against oxidation, inhibits thromboxane, discourages blood clot formation when inhibits platelet aggregation, and increases exercise tolerance. Policosanol, at clinically evaluated dosages, has shown cholesterol-lowering properties comparable to low to medium dosage levels of the statins.
Niacin
Large doses of niacin (as nicotinic acid, but not the niacinamide form) are prescribed to combat high blood pressure and to broadly improve blood cholesterol levels. Niacin is used to treat high Cholesterol because of its unique ability to improve lipid profiles for ApoB, LDL, small dense LDL, HDL, HDL2b – an extremely good cholesterol, Lp(a), fibrinogen and trigycerides. Pharmacologic doses of niacin (1.5 to 6 grams/day in divided doses) typically reduce LDL cholesterol levels by 10 to 25 percent and triglyceride levels by 20 to 50 percent. HDL cholesterol levels are also typically increased by 15 to 35 percent. An esterified, no-flush derivative of niacin called Inositol hexanicotinate (IHN), is slowly hydrolyzed and has no reported side effects using 4 grams daily.
Inositol Hexanicotinate (“Flush Free Niacin”)
Flush-free niacin may lower cholesterol while boosting the beneficial HDL fraction. In a report on the antiatherogenic role of HDL (high density lipoprotein) cholesterol, flush-free niacin (inositol hexanicotinate) “appears to have the greatest potential to increase HDL cholesterol [by] 30%.” This study was made over a 5-year period and focused on the effect of high LDL numbers exhibited before a patient’s first coronary event(s). As reported in a November 1998 American Journal of Cardiology research study, “Nicotinic acid (niacin) has been shown to decrease triglyceride, increase HDL cholesterol, lower LDL cholesterol, and decrease lipoprotein (a); it also decreases fibrinogen,” an additional benefit that reduces the risk of related cardiovascular disease.
Selenium
Selenium is an essential trace mineral and is of fundamental importance to human health. Selenium is one of the constituents of selenoproteins and has structural and enzymic roles. Selenium is best-known for its antioxidant properties and a catalyst for the production of active thyroid hormone.
Guggulipid
This natural ingredient is derived from the mixture of plant chemicals (ketonic steroids) from the gum resin of Commiphora mukul, called guggulipid, and is an approved treatment of hyperlipidemia in India. It has been a mainstay of traditional Indian herbal medicine (Ayurveda) approaches in preventing high cholesterol and atherosclerosis. Clinical studies indicate it to be effective in the treatment of elevated cholesterol, elevated triglyceride levels and elevated LDL (bad cholesterol) levels. Studies have also shown that LDL oxidation, which is the main cause of plaque build in the arteries, can be prevented or at least decreased by the antioxidant activity of Guggul.
Plant Sterols and Plant Stanols
Plant sterols and stanols represent a group of compounds that are an essential constituent of cell membranes in animals and plants. Cholesterol is actually a sterol of human cells, whereas phytosterols are produced by plants. The most common plant sterols are sitosterol, campesterol, and stigmasterol. Plant sterols, although structurally similar to cholesterol, are not synthesized by the human body and are very poorly absorbed. The specific plant sterols that are currently incorporated into foods and supplements are extracted from soybean oil. The plant sterols, currently incorporated into foods, are esterified to unsaturated fatty acids (creating sterol esters) to increase lipid solubility, thus allowing maximal incorporation into a limited amount of fat. Some plant sterols currently available are saturated, to form the stanol derivatives, which are also effective at lowering cholesterol.
Knowing what to look for in cholesterol lowering supplements will help on choosing which one is the best for you, together with your doctor’s recommendation.
The above ingredients are included in New Health Corp.’s Heart Savior. Heart Savior™ is great at lowering LDL bad cholesterol and triglycerides, but it does not stop there. Heart Savior contains Co-Q10 which is necessary for a youthful heart muscle, and other ingredients to reduce inflammation of the arteries, the build up of plaque deposits in the arteries and lower C Reactive protein levels.