Statins vs. Antioxidants: Alternative Cholesterol Treatments

What is cholesterol?
Cholesterol is a waxy substance that occurs naturally in our body. It is made in the liver and is contained in all the cells of the body and in the blood. Agents called lipoproteins carry cholesterol around the bloodstream. Cholesterol also occurs naturally in foods from animal sources, including red meat, dairy, egg yokes, shellfish, and poultry.

Cholesterol is important to for good health. It forms the membranes of our cells and our hormones. Even the American Heart Association agrees that cholesterol is “an important part of a healthy body.” For most people—about 80% of us—dietary cholesterol, the kind made in your liver, does not raise blood serum cholesterol. This means that 80% of the population can eat whatever they want without any change in cholesterol levels.

Cholesterol: How low is too low?
Modern studies agree that the optimum level for total cholesterol is around 160. Above this range has long been considered too high, and now many feel that a cholesterol level lower than 160 is also damaging. A study in the Lancet Medical Journal reported findings of the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute's Honolulu Heart Program. The study included over 8,000 men. "Our data is in accord with previous findings of increased mortality in elderly people with low serum cholesterol, and show that long-term persistence of low cholesterol concentration actually increases the risk of death." The Framingham Heart Study also showed that when total cholesterol levels went below 160, heart disease problems increased.

Contrary to popular belief, low cholesterol levels are not an accurate indicator of heart disease. Cardiologist Christie Ballantyne, at Baylor College of Medicine, noted, in an article in USA Today, that most of her heart disease patients have a total cholesterol level of less than 240.The majority of people who end up having heart attacks or stroke don't have high cholesterol," she said.

Statin side effects?
Statins are the traditional medication for people with high cholesterol. These include drugs such as Lipitor, Crestor, Zocor and Levitor. The main side effects of statin drugs include liver toxicity, muscle cramps, nausea, heartburn and hair loss. Transient global amnesia is now known to be associated with statin drug use, with thousands of cases of statin drug uses reporting severe memory disturbance.

Alternative sources of cholesterol-lowering agents
There are alternatives or additions to traditonal statin drug therapy that can help lower your cholesterol, primarily foods and specific vitamins, as well as exercise. As always, you should check with your prescribing physician before you change your medication plan. Some examples:

Foods:

• Blueberries have been shown to lower cholesterol in pigs. Researchers concluded that the flavonoids in blueberries give them their anti- cholesterol effect, acting as an antioxidant and protecting the blood vessels from inflammation. One study showed that blueberries reduced the LDL and HDL by 8-15 %.
• Red rice yeast can also lower cholesterol. This is available at health food stores.
• Red grapes are high in polyphenols that protect against both cancer and heart disease. Compounds in red grape juice can lower cholesterol and other cardiovascular risk factors. Drinking just 100 ml a day- even from the frozen concentrate- can lower LDL levels. Other red fruit, such as pomegranates, may have the same effect.

Vitamins

• A cholesterol-lowering diet should also include Manganese, B6, Vitamin C, Vitamin K, and fiber.
• Vitamin E has long been known to lower the risk of heart disease. Most usage is a form of Vit E called alpha-tocopherol. Tocotrienol, another form of Vitamin E is sixty times more potent than the other kinds of Vit. E.