Cholesterol is a fatty substance that travels in your blood to reach your cells, which need it for many biochemical reactions. But when blood cholesterol levels are too high, this raises your risk for coronary artery disease, heart attack and stroke. Statins are prescription medicines that lower levels of low-density lipoprotein, or LDL, while fish oil tends to raise levels of high-density lipoproteins, or HDL, also called good cholesterol. Taking statins and fish oil together may be beneficial, although you should discuss this option with your doctor to decide if it is right for you.
LDL and HDL
When your levels of LDL are too high, excess cholesterol ends up on your arterial walls in deposits called plaque. Plaque can narrow arteries and interfere with blood flow, an especially dangerous situation for coronary arteries that supply your heart. Plaque can also stiffen your artery walls, reducing their elasticity and contributing to high blood pressure. HDL, on the other hand, is considered "good" cholesterol because it scavenges cholesterol from your blood and carries it to your liver where liver cells absorb it and break it down.
Statins
Statins are a class of prescription drugs that help keep your cholesterol levels in a healthy range. They suppress an enzyme called HMG-CoA reductase that liver cells use to manufacture LDL, lowering the amount produced and reducing your overall cholesterol levels. Over time, using statins to keep LDL low may also decrease the amount of plaque in your arteries, helping reduce your risk of heart disease. Statins are considered safe and effective drugs, according to the Food and Drug Administration, although they may cause rare but potentially serious side effects in some people.
Fish Oil
Certain fish that live in cold water contain oil rich in omega-3 fatty acids, an essential nutrient that your body is unable to make and must obtain from food. These polyunsaturated fats are naturally anti-inflammatory and may help reduce risk of chronic disease, including cancer, arthritis and heart disease. Fish oil also tends to raise blood levels of HDL, or good cholesterol, while lowering the amount of triglycerides, another unhealthy fat, in your blood. It also may lower blood pressure and prevent blood clots, which can contribute to heart disease or stroke. You may increase your intake of fish oil by consuming omega-3 fatty acid supplements, available from most health food stores.
Combining the Two
Since statins and fish oil achieve health benefits through separate mechanisms, consuming them in combination may be an excellent strategy. According to an article written by a registered pharmacist and published in "Life Extension" in 2007, taking fish oil along with Lipitor, a statin drug, may actually enhance the benefit of fish oil, resulting in a greater increase in HDL and a larger decrease in triglyceride levels. Talk to your doctor about taking a statin at the same time as fish oil supplements and follow his guidance.
References
- National Cholesterol Education Program: High Blood Cholesterol: What You Need to Know
- "Life Extension"; Integrating Fish Oil with Prescription Heart Medications; J. Scozzari, RPh; April 2007
- Food and Drug Admnistration: Controlling Cholesterol With Statins
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Omega-3 Fatty Acids
- Mayo Clinic: HDL Cholesterol: How to Boost Your "Good" Cholesterol
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