LifeCare Chiropractic

The Best Chiropractic Care in Mesa, Arizona

hypercholesterolemia

HDL raising effect of orange juice in hypercholesterolemia – (11-27-00)

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HDL raising effect of orange juice in hypercholesterolemia

There are several ways to lower cholesterol levels safely, and increasing intake of fruits and veggies is such a wonderful way. In addition to helping with cholesterol, it will also lower your risk of many other diseases. Adding exercise will also increase HDL levels, as well as the addition of soy to your diet. Want a great cholesterol fighter? How about a smoothie made at home? Frozen yogurt, toss in some probiotics, filitered water, ice and several servings of fruit. Drink it on your way to work!!

AJCN — Abstracts: Kurowska et al. 72 (5): 1095

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Fat distribution in associated with alterations of the HPA axis activity – (10-08-01)

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Fat distribution in associated with alterations of the HPA axis activity

More and more the importance of our adrenal glands in many systemic diseases is coming to light. An adrenocortical stress profile is so incredibly easy and yields potentially important information in obesity, diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, fatigue…this list goes on. The information obtained can many times then be treated nutritionally with certain vitamins and glandulars as well as avoidance of caffeine and refined carbs.

Synergy : Clinical Endocrinology 55 (4), 447-454

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Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease; a Feature of the Metabolic Syndrome – (08-06-01)

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Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease; a Feature of the Metabolic Syndrome

We have identified a host of conditions associated with impaired insulin sensitivity such as hypertension, heart disease, hypercholesterolemia and abdominal adiposity. We can now add fatty liver disease to the list. On the converse side, that would also mean that any patient with liver problems should have their insulin sensitivity assessed.

Diabetes — Abstracts: Marchesini et al. 50 (8): 1844

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Extended-Release Niacin Safe for Diabetics W/ Hypercholesterolemia – (04-23-01)

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Extended-Release Niacin Safe for Diabetics W/ Hypercholesterolemia

There has been some concern in the past with regards to the safety of using niacin with diabetics. This study evaluated a 1 and 1.5 gram dose of extended release niacin in diabetics. These dosages of typically much lower than has been used in other studies (typically 2-3 grams are used); however, these patients were already on additional cholesterol-lowering medications and this may be the reason for the lower dose used. Overall, the results were favorable, with the 1.5 gram dose having some effect on glycemic control. Both dosages were very effective in increasing HDL levels.

50th Annual Scientific Session of the American College of Cardiology Diabetics with poorly controlled cholesterol levels despite statin therapy can be safely given extended-release niacin. The combination significantly improves the lipid profile without adversely affecting glycemic control, Texas researchers reported . In the past, niacin has been shown to worsen glycemic control in diabetics, Dr. Gloria L. Vega of the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas said, even though niacin corrects the lipid abnormalities typically seen in diabetes. In her presentation to conference attendees, Dr. Vega described how she and her colleagues tested extended-release niacin (Niaspan, Kos Pharmaceuticals, Miami) in 148 diabetics with abnormal lipid profiles, many on statin therapy, in a 16-week trial. The researchers compared the effects of 1 gm and 1.5 gm extended-release niacin with placebo. Dr. Vega reported that 1 gm extended-release niacin increased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels 19% and 1.5 gm increased them 24%, while placebo had no significant effect. Levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol did not change significantly with either placebo or 1 gm niacin, while they dropped 8% with the 1.5 gm dose. Triglyceride levels dropped 24% and 29% for patients on 1 gm and 1.5 gm extended-release niacin, respectively. Fasting blood glucose and hemoglobin A1c levels did not change during the study in the placebo and 1 gm arms of the study, but patients on 1.5 gm niacin had a worsening of glycemic control. “We are very excited about this study,” Dr. Vega told Reuters Health. “Extended-release niacin can be incorporated into the treatment regimen of diabetics….It can be used with statin therapy or triglyceride-lowering drugs….There was no increase in liver enzymes and no increased weakness” during the study period, she added. “Certainly you are not going to take a patient with poor glycemic control and try this,” Dr. Vega said. “But most physicians are not aware that niacin can effectively increase HDL….Niacin has a bad reputation in terms of glycemic control, but you can control that with drugs rather than discontinue the niacin,” she asserted.

Insulin Resistance as a Predictor of Age-Related Diseases – (08-20-01)

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Insulin Resistance as a Predictor of Age-Related Diseases

Need I say more? With almost any chronic disease patient, whether it’s diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, cardiovascular disease, obesity, etc… insulin resistance always needs to be addressed. I believe it is one of the key metabolic defects that occurs that ultimately results in a disease process. Exercise, education about whole grains vs refined carbs, monounsaturated fats and specific nutrients like CLA, alpha lipoic acid, chromium and vanadium are all components to managing insulin sensitivity.

JCEM — Abstracts: Facchini et al. 86 (8): 3574

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Very-low–dose niacin on HDL in patients on long-term statin therapy – (06-10-02)

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Very-low–dose niacin on HDL in patients on long-term statin therapy

Remember that niacin is a well established (but hardly used) therapy for hypercholesterolemia. At therapeutic dosages (roughly 2-3 grams/day) the main side effect is skin flushing. This study uses low dose niacin (100 mg/day) to effect HDL levels. How about adding this to a natural approach to lowering overall cholesterol levels instead of statins?

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Antioxidant vitamins make lipid lowering drugs less effective – (12-10-01)

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Antioxidant vitamins make lipid lowering drugs less effective

This article is actually a review of an article in New England Journal of Medicine. I thought I would link this article instead of the original because the title is a bit more shocking. The original article does not dramatize the antioxidant’s effect like this one does. The results of the study show that antioxidant use blunts niacin and simvastatin’s increase of HDL cholesterol. This author suggests that antioxidants should not be used along with these meds. I still choke on this response even after reading it several times. Antioxidants have shown consistently to play a major role in protection against many chronic disease; CVD included. To suggest that a patient with CVD avoid antioxidants flies in the face of many studies. Considering that antioxidants can help to reduce the oxidation of LDL cholesterol I would consider their use with hypercholesterolemia essential. Keep in mind that this current study was small and can not be extrapolated to the population at large.

bmj.com Gottlieb 323 (7325): 1323a

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Soy components improve cholesterol – (02-08-01)

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Soy isoflavones improve lipids in normal & mildly hypercholesterolemia

Soy is believed to act through several mechanisms (most centered on the liver) to lower cholesterol levels. The effect in this study was mild, but, as with any functional approach, with added exercise, lowering of refined carbs (high insulin will stimulate HMG-CoA reductase..the enzyme that makes cholesterol), nutrients designed to stimulate healthy liver and gall bladder function (to aid in the elimination of cholesterol through the feces) and avoidance of saturated fat and I’m the effect is no longer mild.

AJCN — Abstracts: Wangen et al. 73 (2): 225 http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/content/abstract/73/2/225