Cholesterol Support Formula
Full Clinical Trail
A cholesterol support formula would have to take into consideration the interaction of all its components and provide sufficient elements to assist the body addressing unwanted effects of inappropriate diet, and side effects from other drugs.
In example, coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is an essential nutrient that some studies report as deficient in direct relation to the administration of HMG-CoA (3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A) reductase inhibitor drugs or statin drugs, pharmaceutical agents used to lower hypercholesterolemia. By inhibiting HMG-CoA reductase, CoQ10 is also inhibited.
CoQ10 or ubiquinone is a phosphorylated nonprotein molecule, mostly synthesized by the liver, with coenzymatic function for mitochondrial enzyme complexes I, II and III (mitochondrial electron transport chain) and is essential for the production of mitochondrial adenosine triphosphate (ATP).
ATP is the basic respiratory energy molecule in the mitochondria of every cell and from where 95 percent of the body's energy metabolic energy is derived. Since nearly all cellular functions are dependent on energy, coenzyme Q10 is essential for the health of all human tissues and organs.
CoQ10 is itself unrelated to a lowering cholesterol effect yet its depletion renders the body unable to function properly.
Statin-induced CoQ10 depletion is well documented as dose-related in 15 animal studies in six different animal species and human studies and it has been shown to be associated with a fall in left ventricular function, an elevation of lactate to pyruvate ratio, an enhancement of LDL cholesterol oxidation and it has also been shown to correlate with increased ischemia reperfusion injury, skeletal muscle injury and increased mortality.
Of 15 published trials on statin-induced CoQ10 depletion in humans, nine were controlled trials, eight of which documented significant CoQ10 depletion.
Statin-induced CoQ10 deficiency could be preventable with supplemental CoQ10 with no adverse impact on the cholesterol lowering or anti-inflammatory properties of the statin drugs and it's inclusion in a cholesterol support formula is quite relevant.
Cholesterol Support Nutraceuticals
In 2005, Nutritional Health Institute Laboratories, LLC created a formula that clinically proved to lower LDL (low density lipoprotein) cholesterol by up to 34%, VLDL (very low density lipoprotein) cholesterol by up to 76%, triglycerides by up to 76% and total cholesterol by up to 28%. To see the full clinical trial on our cholesterol control formula click here (a new window will open).
The nutraceuticals used to lower or support cholesterol are:
Plant Sterols and Stanol Esters - Plant sterols and stanols 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.
The plant sterols and stanols used in our formula have been extensively studied clinically and have proven not only to lower cholesterol but protect the heart as well. Plant sterols and stanols simply reduce cholesterol absorption by competing with animal origin cholesterol. When less dietary cholesterol is absorbed, less cholesterol is returned to the liver and through this process LDL is also decreased.
By lowering total and LDL cholesterol levels, plant sterols and stanols may also reduce your risk of heart disease. Studies have shown that taking plant sterols daily can lower cholesterol measurements by an average of 10% to 14%. The National Cholesterol Education Panel has suggested taking plant stanols and sterols along with a proper low fat diet and regular exercise program to help maintain normal cholesterol levels.
Red Yeast Rice Powder - Red Yeast Rice is made by fermenting a type of yeast called Monascus purpureus over red rice and it has been used in China for centuries as both a food and as a medicinal substance. 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. In addition, this dietary supplement has been used traditionally for bruised muscles, hangovers, indigestion, and colic in infants.
In a study conducted at UCLA School of Medicine, by David Heber, 83 people with high cholesterol levels received red yeast rice over a 12-week period. The study concluded that red yeast rice significantly reduces total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and total triglyceride concentrations when compared to those who received placebo.
In a study involving 187 patients with elevated cholesterol were treated with red yeast rice daily for eight weeks. At the end of this eight-week trial, total cholesterol decreased by 16%, LDL by 21%, triglycerides by 24%. HDL cholesterol also increased by 14%.
In another 8-week trial involving a 324 people with high cholesterol levels, those who received red yeast rice experienced a significant drop in cholesterol levels compared to those who received placebo. Total cholesterol fell by 22.7%, LDL by 31%, and triglycerides by 34% in the red yeast rice group. HDL (high density lipoprotein) cholesterol increased by 20% in the red yeast rice group as well.
Guggulipid (standardized for E and Z gugulesterones) - Also called guggul is derived from the mixture of plant chemicals (ketonic steroids) from the gum resin of Commiphora mukul. Guggulipid 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 Guggulipid. Clinical studies on Guggulipid indicate that its hypolipidemic activity (decreasing cholesterol and other lipids) can be attributed to more than one mechanism. Three of the possible mechanisms include inhibition of cholesterol biosynthesis, enhancing the rate of excretion of cholesterol and promoting rapid degradation of cholesterol.
Guggulipid is typically manufactured in a standardized form that provides a fixed amount of guggulipid, the presumed active ingredients in Guggulipid. Guggulipid helps reduce high cholesterol, because it lowers harmful LDL while elevating the beneficial HDL. Guggulipid also has anti-inflammatory activity and reduces the levels of C-reactive protein. It helps prevent blood platelet aggregation and breaks up blood clots. Thus Guggulipid can be used not only to lower bad cholesterol but can be used as a preventative against heart disease and stroke.
Inositol Hexanicotinate - Known as flush-free niacin, may lower cholesterol while boosting the beneficial HDL fraction. In a report on the antiatherogenic role of HDL 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.
Policosanol (from sugar cane) - Sugar cane derived policosanol is relatively new in the United States but is a popular hypocholesterolemic in other countries. The main policosanol form in sugar cane is octacosanol, a long-chain fatty alcohol found in the waxy film that covers the leaves and fruit of the plants that contain it.
Policosanol is a 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.
This hypocholesterolemic compound 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.
According to several studies, policosanol has also shown antiplatelet effects, it prevents lipoprotein peroxidation, and beneficially affects atherosclerosis development. It has good tolerability and a low rate of clinical and laboratory adverse effects.
Policosanol is an effective alternative to lowering cholesterol for many people. In a study, 20 mg a day (over a 6- to 12-week period) resulted in the following lipid improvements: LDL cholesterol reduced about 28%, total cholesterol about 20%, and HDL increased by 7-10%. Triglycerides were unaffected. During the course of the trial, participants continued on a low cholesterol diet. In other studies policosanol was shown to lower triglycerides as well as lowering total and LDL cholesterol and raising HDL cholesterol.
Selenomethionine - Selenium prevents ventricular tachycardia, it is a hypolipidemic that also improves diabetic symptoms, congestive heart failure, and cardiomyopathy, the later been defined as any disease that affects the structure and function of the heart. For example, the heart may become disabled as fibrous tissue partially replaces the heart muscle; the fibrous tissue degrades the heart's performance and the blood no longer moves efficiently. The World Health Organization recognizes cardiomyopathy as a selenium deficiency. In addition, French researchers showed that chronic heart failure (associated with oxidative stress) appears to be relieved by selenium supplementation.
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