Cholesterol serum, lowering

Combination drug therapy is an effective means to achieve greater reductions in LDL cholesterol (statin + ezetimibe or bile acid resin, bile acid resin + ezetimibe, or three-drug combinations) as well as raising HDL cholesterol and lowering serum triglycerides (statin + niacin or fibrate). 

Perhaps the most hopeful sign of progress is the belated recognition of "paradoxical" reactions to the lipid-lowering diets that have been widely used for decades. For example, researchers at the South-Western Medical Center in Dallas repeatedly find "marked individual variations in response to the diet." In many persons these diets show little benefit, or increase LDL cholesterol, serum triglycerides, or... 

In contrast to its effects on glucose metabolism, tacrolimus offers potential advantages over ciclosporin for lipid disorders (1101). Compared with ciclosporin-based immunosuppressive regimens, total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol serum concentrations were lower in patients taking tacrolimus for 1 year (1102). Both findings were considered to result from a significant glucocorticoidsparing effect of tacrolimus. 

Rabbits fed a 0.5% cholesterol diet had atherosclerotic plaques on over 50%i of the aorta surface whereas the 0.5% cholesterol plus 40 mg lignan complex/kg body/per day reduced atherosclerosis by 34.4% (Prasad, 2005). Furthermore, the added lignan complex lowered the total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, serum, and aortic malondialdehyde by 20%, 14%, 35%, and 58%, respectively. Unlike previous studies, the lignan enhanced HDL cholesterol by 25% and 30% in normocholesterolemic and hypercholesterolemic rabbits, respectively. Slightly higher (33% and 35%) reductions in total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol, respectively, were observed in rabbits on a 1% cholesterol diet containing 15 mg SDG/kg/day (Prasad, 1999). A 73% reduction in atherosclerosis was observed in the rabbits given the SDG diets compared to the 1% cholesterol diets. 

Law MR, Wald NJ, Thompson SG. By how much and how quickly does reduction in serum cholesterol concentration lower risk of ischaemic heart disease BMJ I 994 308 367-372. 

The plasma cholesterol, triglyceride, and LDL cholesterol concentrations are higher (by about 3%, 9.1%, and 1.7%, respectively), as is that of p-lipoprotein, and HDL cholesterol is lower in smokers than in nonsmokers. Free fatty acid concentration tends to be variable, but inhalation during smoking produces an immediate increase of free fatty acids of about 30%. Some of the effects of smoking on serum constituents are listed in Table 17-6. 

HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins) inhibit the regulatory step in the biosynthesis of cholesterol. They lower serum cholesterol and LDL cholesterol by inhibition of hepatic cholesterol synthesis and, more importantly, by up-regulating LDLreceptor activity. 

A large series of biphenylyl-substituted compounds was tested in vitro for Inhibition of the synthesis, of cholesterol. 5 ( -Biphenylyl)-5-methylvaleric acid (W 253I) (2) and 2-(dlmethylamino)ethyl 5-( blphenylyl)-3-methylvalerate hydrochloride (W 2T95) were the most potent inhibitors. W 25J1 inhibits the incorporation of acetate into cholesterol and lowers serum cholesterol in the rat but not in the dog. ... 

Maintenance of normal bowel habits, lower blood pressure, and lower cholesterol serum concentrations have been attributed to adequate dietary fiber intake. Some evidence, although inconclusive, also suggests that fiber has a role in the prevention of colon cancer and... 

LBG food products provided a safe, effective means to lower serum lipids in hypercholesterolemic and normal adults and children over a three-month feeding study. Serum cholesterol was lowered 11-16%, LDL-C was lowered 10-17%, and HDL/LDL ratios increased (4-12%). The LBG food products were consumed without significant side effects and were well accepted. 

It is well estabhshed that serum cholesterol in hypothyroid patients is invariably elevated and then rapidly reduced after thyroid hormone administration. Using radioactive acetate and labeled cholesterol, respectively, it has been demonstrated [173] that both the biosynthesis and the rate of ehmination of cholesterol are lower than normal in hypothyroidism. It has been suggested, therefore, that catabolism of cholesterol is impaired to a greater extent than the biosynthesis of the same, so that hypercholesterolemia is the necessary consequence. Administration of thyroid hormone causes less cholesterol biosynthesis than the oxidative removal of sterols resulting in a reduction of serum cholesterol levels [173]. 

The efficacy of capsaicin as a hypocholesterolemic agent has also been investigated in animals fed cholesterol in their diets. Sambaiah and Satyanarayana [104] have reported that the serum cholesterol levels in rats on a 1 % cholesterol -i- 5 % red pepper diet were lower than those not fed with red pepper. Liver cholesterol was lower in the red pepper- as well as capsaicin (an equivalent level of 15 mg%)-fed groups. Fecal excretion of free cholesterol and of bUe acids was enhanced in animals fed the spice and capsaicin. The anti-hypercholesterolemic efficacy of dietary capsaicin has been evidenced in rats fed an atherogenic high-cholesterol diet, and such an influence also resulted in countering of the changes in membrane lipid profile in the erythrocytes [105]. In streptozotocin-induced diabetic situation however, dietary capsaicin did not show any beneficial hypolipidemic property [106]. 

Intubation of rabbits with 8 mg capsaicin/rabbit (body wt of about 850 g/day for 35 days) did not have any effect with regard to plasma cholesterol, triglyceride, and HDL-cholesterol when they were on a normal diet [108]. In contrast, in rabbits on a 0.5 % cholesterol diet, capsaicin had a beneficial effect in that the plasma cholesterol, triglycerides, and total cholesterol HDL-cholesterol ratio were significantly lower than in animals fed cholesterol only. Turkeys on a 2-3 mg capsaicin/ kg feed for 9 days along with 0.5 % cholesterol had lower total serum cholesterol than the controls [109]. Hypercholesterolemia was produced by feeding a 0.2 % cholesterol-supplemented diet, and capsaicin and dihydrocapsaicin were administered daily via the buccal route at dose of 4 mg per bird for 6 weeks [110]. In... 

Derivatives of lovastatin have been found to be even more potent in cholesterol-lowering trials. Synvinolin lowers serum cholesterol levels at much lower doses than lovastatin. 

We hear a lot these days about the relationships between saturated fats, cholesterol, and heart disease. What are the facts It s well established that a diet rich in saturated animal fats often leads to an increase in blood serum cholesterol, particularly in sedentary, overweight people. Conversely, a diet-lower in saturated fats and higher in polyunsaturated fats leads to a lower serum cholesterol level. Studies have shown that a serum cholesterol level greater than 240 mg/dL (a desirable value is <200 mg/dL) is correlated with an increased incidence of coronary artery disease, in which cholesterol deposits build up on the inner walls of coronary arteries, blocking the flow of blood to the heart muscles. 

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