David S. Klein, M.D.

Cholesterol

Introduction

This section is being written 'on the fly.'  apologies.....dsk

NOTE:

One of the most common causes of elevated cholesterol is hypothyroidism.  Inadequate thyroid levels or inadequate cellular response to thyroid hormone (as occurs with insulin & diabetes) results in elevations in cholesterol.  If body temperatures are consistently found to be below 98.0, hypothyroidism is highly likely, and the best approach to decreasing cholesterol is treatment of the underlying pathology. That is, use a combination of T3 & T4.

Subclinical hypothyroidism is perhaps the most prevalent metabolic disease state in the general population. One of the most effective ways to control cholesterol levels involves the appropriate regulation of thyroid level.  (see section on hypothyroid.)  Assuming that this has been addressed, we will proceed with nutriceutical approaches.

First begin with the basics.  That is, avoid soy-containing foods.  Weight will drop, temperature will return to normal, and cholesterol levels will drop.

Then, we will start with the addition of a soy-free b-complex, one per day, with food.

Folic acid 5 mg taken with the B-plex, above.

inositol hexaniacinate, taken three times daily.  Best an hour or so before meals, but it works just fine if taken with meal.  it is an appetite suppressant if taken before the meal.

Taurine, taken three times daily with food.

Add the policosinol, described below 4-8 weeks after beginning the above.

more to come...  I have a CD that is under production that runs about 30 minutes and explains this in plain terms.  When it is done, I'll have it for public distribution.  Please be patient.  I'm going as fast as I can.

Begin with the basics:

Soy-free B-complex, one per day. I prefer 'Thyroid-friendly B' which is an orthomolecular product.  Inexpensive, one per day.
Daddy's Magic minerals, two capsules, twice daily.
Omega-3 fatty acids.
Folic Acid 5 mg per day.
Taurine, three per day.

Policosinol

You may have already seen this emerging dietary supplement on the shelf, either as a single supplement or incorporated into a multivitamin marketed for lowering cholesterol. Policosanol consists of numerous long-chained, fatty alcohols extracted from the plant, Saccharum officinarum, (sugar cane) and beeswax. The predominant alcohol in policosanol, octacosanol, has been previously shown to lower total cholesterol levels and LDL levels and is sold separately at pharmacies. Although there is not a lot research concerning policosanol, the research generated so far have concluded very promising results with regard to its cholesterol-lowering capabilities.

What does policosanol do?
Policosanol functions in lowering low density lipoprotein levels (LDL) and total cholesterol levels, raising high density lipoproteins (HDL), as well as preventing the blood from clotting.

How does policosanol work?
With regard to its lipid-lowering capabilities, the current mechanism by which policosanol functions is not known. Previous studies have indicated that policosanol lowers cholesterol by inhibiting its synthesis in the liver. However, it is now known which step in the synthesis of cholesterol this supplement interacts with. Other studies have indicated that policosanol increases the uptake and removal of LDL cholesterol from the cell. In addition to lowering cholesterol levels, policosanol also demonstrates antiplatelet capabilities, therefore preventing the blood from clotting. It does this by decreasing thromboxane A2, a substance made by platelets that constricts blood vessels and encourages clotting.

How should I take policosanol?
Policosanol should be taken with dinner or an evening snack, since the liver mainly synthesizes cholesterol at night. The standard dose used in lowering cholesterol levels is 5 to 10 mg a day and not exceeding 20 mg a day. It may take a few months to see the results, especially with regard to raising HDL levels.
The standard dose effective in decreasing clotting is 10 mg twice a day. These doses should be taken with food.

Who should NOT take this supplement?
As with any medication, regardless of whether it is prescription or non-prescription, you should consult your heath care practitioner before beginning a new regimen. Pregnant women, nursing mothers, hemophiliacs, children, and individuals who have an allergy to beeswax, bees, yams, or sugar cane should not take this supplement.

What are the side effects associated with this medication?
From the studies so far, it appears that side effects are minimal, however, gastrointestinal symptoms, weight loss, and headache were the most reported.

Will this interact with the other medications I am taking?
Taking policosanol with “blood thinners”, such as aspirin or warfarin (Coumadin ®) may increase the effects of these drugs and cause you to bleed more easily. Other drug interactions are not known at this time.

Taurine has been shown to lower cholesterol and assist in weight reduction

Zhang M, Bi LF, Fang JH, Su XL, et al: Beneficial effects of taurine on serum lipids in overweight or obese non-diabetic subjects. Amino Acids. 2004 Jun;26(3):267-71. 

Taurine has beneficial effects on lipid metabolism in experimental animals fed with high-cholesterol or high fat diets. Whether taurine benefits lipid metabolism in humans has rarely been investigated. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of taurine on serum lipids in overweight or obese young adults. Thirty college students (age: 20.3+/-1.7 years) with a body mass index (BMI) >/=25.0 kg/m(2), and with no evidence of diabetes mellitus were selected and assigned to either the taurine group (n=15) or the placebo group (n=15) by double-blind randomization. Taurine 3 g/day or placebo was taken orally for 7 weeks. Triacylglycerol (TG), total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and plasma glucose were measured before and after supplementation. The atherogenic index (AI) was calculated as (TC-HDL-C)/HDL-C. There were no differences in any baseline parameter between the two groups. Taurine supplementation decreased TG and AI significantly. Body weight also reduced significantly in the taurine group. These results suggest that taurine produces a beneficial effect on lipid metabolism and may have an important role in cardiovascular disease prevention in overweight or obese subjects.

Taurine may help reverse hardening of the arteries

Balkan J, Oztezcan S, Hatipoglu A et al: Effect of a taurine treatment on the regression of existing atherosclerotic lesions in rabbits fed on a high-cholesterol diet. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem. 2004 May;68(5):1035-9.

We studied whether taurine has any regressive effect on existing atherosclerotic lesions and lipid peroxidation in rabbits fed on a high-cholesterol (HC) diet. The cholesterol, triglyceride, malondialdehyde (MDA) and diene conjugate (DC) levels, as well as the aortic histopathological findings were examined in rabbits that had been fed on a cholesterol-containing diet for 8 months [0.5% cholesterol (w/w) for 3 months and subsequently 0.25% cholesterol (w/w) for 5 months], and then for a further 4 months on a normal diet with or without taurine treatment [1% (w/v) in the drinking water]. High levels of lipid and lipid peroxide induced by the HC diet were observed to decline in the plasma, liver and aorta of atherosclerotic rabbits, as well as a slight retardation in aortic atherosclerotic lesions during the regression period. Although no significant differences in the lipid and lipid peroxide levels in the plasma and aorta were found between the regressed groups with or without the taurine treatment, the extent of atherosclerotic lesions in the aorta was less in the taurine-treated regressed group than in the non-treated regressed group. However, the liver MDA and DC levels were lower in the regressed rabbits with the taurine treatment in the non-treated group. These results indicate that the taurine treatment may accelerate the regression of cholesterol-induced atherosclerotic lesions in rabbits without having any effect on the plasma and aorta lipid and lipid peroxide levels.

David S. Klein, MD, FACA, FACPM, FACMIMS
Director, Pain Center of Orlando
www.suffernomore.com