Cholesterol is manufactured by the liver and stored in cells to be used for a variety of purposes, such as the production of vitamin D and certain hormones. However, an elevated level of low-density lipoproteins, or LDL cholesterol, is associated with an increased risk of heart disease. In addition to adhering to a balanced diet, certain vitamins, minerals and herbal remedies may help to lower cholesterol. Talk to your doctor about these therapies before self-treating high cholesterol, especially if you take medications.
Inositol
Inositol hexaphosphate, a form of niacin, is a member of the B vitamin complex family with lipotropic properties, meaning that it stimulates an increase in the elimination of fats from the liver. This chemical occurs naturally in many grains, plants, fruits and nuts. Particularly good sources include brown rice, wheat germ, oats, unrefined molasses, bananas, raisins and most vegetables. According to an article published in the October 28, 2008 issue of "Nutrition Research," Y. Okazaki and T. Katayama of Hiroshima University in Japan found that inositol supplementation prevented fatty liver deposits in rats fed milk protein-based amino acid preparations to induce hypercholesterolemia.
Selenium
Selenium is a trace mineral that is involved in supporting immune and thyroid function. The body only needs small amounts of this substance. Deficiency, however, may lead to an increased risk of heart disease. The Office of Dietary Supplements of the National Institutes of Health says that selenium helps to reduce the oxidation of low-density lipoproteins, also known as LDL cholesterol. This is the "bad" kind of cholesterol that contributes to the accumulation of fatty deposits in arteries, which restricts the transport and delivery of blood and oxygen to tissues and organs. According to an article published in the September 18, 2010 issue of "Biological Trace Element Research," authors H. Kaur and M.P. Bansal reported that selenium supplementation reversed the effects of hypercholesterolemia in rats fed a high-cholesterol diet.
Policosanol
This nutrient, obtained from cane sugar, is actually a compound mixture of several long-chain fatty alcohols. Collectively, these compounds reputedly help to inhibit the peroxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids, which reduces LDL cholesterol levels in the bloodstream. However, clinical evidence is mixed.
For instance, the August 1, 1999 issue of "Physiology & Behavior," featured an article that described policosanol as a potential therapy for atheriosclerosis. , while researchers from the National Center for Scientific Research in Cuba reported in the April 1999 issue of "Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics" that policosanol markedly reduced serum LDL cholesterol levels in patients with type II hypercholesterolemia. More recently, however, scientists from McGill University of Montreal reported in the May 2009 issue of "Lipids" that policosanol failed to lower LDL cholesterol levels in 21 hypercholesterolemic patients.
Green Tea
According to researchers from Oklahoma State University, epiogallocatechin-3-gallate, or EGCG, the active ingredient in green tea, limited lipid peroxidation in obese patients. After eight weeks of supplementation, the study team found that study subjects experienced a reduction in LDL cholesterol levels in the treatment groups given either green tea as a beverage or green tea extract.
Check with your physician before supplementing with this herb if you are taking any medications or have a history of high blood pressure or a heart condition. Green tea contains caffeine and other compounds that produce stimulatory effects and may interfere with other medicines.
References
- "Nutrition Research"; Dietary Inositol Hexakisphosphate, But Not Myo-Inositol, Clearly Improves Hypercholesterolemia in Rats Fed Casein-type Amino Acid Mixtures and 1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis (p-chlorophenyl) Ethane; Okazaki Y, Katayama T; October 28, 2008
- NIH: Dietary Supplement Fact Sheet: Selenium
- "Biological Trace Element Research"; Studies on Scavenger Receptors Under Experimental Hypercholesterolemia: Modulation on Selenium Supplementation; Kaur H, Bansal MP; September 18, 2010
- "Physiology & Behavior"; Oral Administration of Policosanol Inhibits in vitro Copper Ion-induced Rat Lipoprotein Peroxidation; Menéndez R et al.; August 1, 1999
- "Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics"; Effects of Policosanol in Patients with Type II Hypercholesterolemia and Additional Coronary Risk Factors; Más R et al.; April 1999
