The artichoke is an edible, nutritious plant that has been used for centuries for medicinal purposes. Artichoke leaf extract or ALE is created by concentrating the antioxidant compounds found in the artichoke. ALE is most common form of artichoke that is sold as a supplement. Although ALE may have numerous health benefits, one if its most common uses is for the prevention and treatment of high cholesterol. Consult your doctor before using.
Cholesterol Biosynthesis
Cholesterol is not inherently bad. It is a necessary component of our bodies and plays an important role in the maintenance of the protective membranes of our cells. According to the American Heart Association, 75% of the cholesterol is synthesized in the body and 25% is found in animal-based food products. In the study published in the June 2002 issue of "Phytotherapy Research," Dr. Rolf Gebhardt successfully measured a decrease in cholesterol biosynthesis from ALE administration to human liver cancer cells and rat liver cells.
Hypercholesterolaemia
Although cholesterol has beneficial roles in the body, high levels of cholesterol or hypercholesterolaemia, can influence the progression of heart disease. A healthy cholesterol level is dependent on the ratio of HDL to LDL in the blood. HDL is synonymous with good cholesterol and LDL is synonymous with bad cholesterol. Higher HDL levels and lower LDL levels equate to better health. In the June 2010 issue of "Biological Trace Element Research," Dr. Canan Küçükgergin found that ALE significantly changed the HDL to LDL ratio in rats.
Clinical Trials
Hypercholesterolaemia is the medical term for high cholesterol, which plays an important role in the progression of heart disease. Dr. Barbara Wider in the October 2009 issue of "Cochrane Database of Systemic Reviews" describes the results of a three separate clinical trials in which ALE was administered to patients suffering from hypercholesterolaemia. In each trial, ALE exhibited moderate yet significant effects against cholesterol compared to the placebo control.
Warnings
Clinical and animal studies indicate that ALE has a positive effect against hypercholesterolaemia; however, it is important to determine ALE effectiveness compared to other cholesterol medications such as statins or Lovaza. Lovaza is a prescribed standardized FDA-approved formulation of supplemental fish oil for the use against high cholesterol. Furthermore, while ALE is largely considered safe, with only few minor side effects, most safety research has not yet been performed. Dangerous side effects may still exist. Consult your doctor before using.
References
- American Heart Association: Cholesterol
- "Phytotherapy Research"; Inhibition of Cholesterol Biosynthesis in HepG2 Cells by Artichoke Extracts is Reinforced by Glucosidase Pretreatment; Rolf Gebhardt; June 2002
- "Biological Trace Element Research"; Effect of Artichoke Leaf Extract on Hepatic and Cardiac Oxidative Stress in Rats Fed on High Cholesterol Diet; Canan Küçükgergin, et al; June 2010
- "Cochrane Database of Systemic Reviews"; Artichoke Leaf Extract for Treating Hypercholesterolaemia; Barbara Wider; October 2009
