Your heart generates blood pressure, and it is needed to circulate blood throughout the body. The blood pressure increases when cholesterol plaque builds up within the walls of arteries, a process called atherosclerosis. Anti-cholesterol medications such as the statins, niacin, fibrates and bile acid resins reduce cholesterol levels, and thereby, reduce the rate of plaque buildup.
Statins
The statins are a class of anti-cholesterol medications that prevent the production of cholesterol by cells of the body; they do so by blocking a specific enzyme involved in cholesterol synthesis. Preventing the synthesis of cholesterol reduces its level in the blood. Simvastatin and lovastatin are among the most prescribed statins. Muscle pain and abdominal pain are common side effects of statin use.
Niacin
Cholesterol is transported in the blood by carrier molecules called lipoproteins. Therefore, to have cholesterol in the blood, it is necessary to make a lipoprotein. Niacin supplementation reduces the production of LDL, or low density lipoprotein, which is involved with the transport of cholesterol from the liver to the cells via the blood. Abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting are common side effects of niacin use.
Fibrates
Fibrates are effective in reducing cholesterol and triglycerides. They do so by reducing the production of VLDL-- another lipoprotein that carries a significant amount of triglyceride, as well as cholesterol. Fibrates such as fenofibrate and gemfibrozil, are commonly prescribed to people with combined elevations in cholesterol and triglycerides. Abdominal pain, diarrhea nausea and vomiting are common side effects of fibrates use.
Bile Acid Resins
The bile, which is made in the liver and stored in the gallbladder, is necessary for fat digestion. Cholesterol is needed for the production of bile. The bile is made up of bile acids, which are normally recycled after use in the intestines. The bile acid resins prevent the recycling of bile acids, thereby increasing its excretion in the stool. As bile acids are lost, the body is forced to channel the use of cholesterol toward bile synthesis; this reduces the levels of cholesterol in the blood.
References
- "PillWatch.com": Efficacy and Safety Profile of Different Anti-cholesterol Medicines
- "Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine": Kasper M.D., Braunwald M.D. and Fauci M.D.; 2005
