How to Improve Cholesterol Levels Without Drugs
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AHA Recommendation
Cholesterol plays a major role in a person's heart health. High blood cholesterol is a major risk
factor for coronary heart disease and stroke. That's why it's important for all people to know their
cholesterol level. They should also learn about their other risk factors for heart disease and stroke.
Total blood cholesterol is the most common measurement of blood cholesterol. It's the number you
receive as test results. Cholesterol is measured in milligrams per deciliter of blood (mg/dL).
Blood cholesterol for adults is classified by levels. Your healthcare provider must interpret your
cholesterol numbers based on other risk factors such as age, gender, family history, race, smoking,
high blood pressure, physical inactivity, obesity and diabetes.
The American Heart Association endorses the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) guidelines
for detection of high cholesterol. The Third Report of the Expert panel on Detection, Evaluation,
and Treatment of High Blood Cholesterol in Adults (Adult Treatment Panel III or ATP III) was released
in 2001. It recommends that everyone age 20 and older have a fasting "lipoprotein profile" every five
years. This test is done after a 9-12-hour fast without food, liquids or pills. It gives information
about total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) or "bad" cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein
(HDL) or "good" cholesterol and triglycerides (blood fats).
Researchers have established healthy ranges for each of these. They're given in the lists below. If a
fasting lipoprotein profile isn't possible, the values for total cholesterol and HDL cholesterol are
acceptable. Initial classification based on total cholesterol and HDL cholesterol Total Cholesterol Level Category Less than 200 mg/dL Desirable level that puts you at lower risk for coronary heart disease. A cholesterol level of 200 mg/dL or higher raises your risk. 200 to 239 mg/dL Borderline high 240 mg/dL and above High blood cholesterol. A person with this level has more than twice the risk of coronary heart disease as someone whose cholesterol is below 200 mg/dL. HDL Cholesterol Level Category Less than 40 mg/dL (for men) Less than 50 mg/dL (for women) Low HDL cholesterol. A major risk factor for heart disease. 60 mg/dL and above High HDL cholesterol. An HDL of 60 mg/dL and above is considered protective against heart disease. If your total cholesterol is 200 mg/dL or more, or your HDL cholesterol is less than 40 mg/dL (for men) and less than 50 mg/dL (for women), you need to have a lipoprotein profile done to determine your LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels. If your cholesterol is high or you have other risk factors, your healthcare provider will likely want to monitor your cholesterol more closely. Follow your provider's advice about how often to have your cholesterol tested. He or she will set appropriate management goals based on your LDL cholesterol level and other risk factors. LDL Cholesterol Level Category Less than 100 mg/dL Optimal 100 to 129 mg/dL Near or above optimal 130 to 159 mg/dL Borderline high 160 to 189 mg/dL High 190 mg/dL and above Very high Your LDL cholesterol goal depends on how many other risk factors you have.† If you don't have coronary heart disease or diabetes and have one or no risk factors, your LDL goal is less than 160 mg/dL. If you don't have coronary heart disease or diabetes and have two or more risk factors, your LDL goal is less than 130 mg/dL. If you do have coronary heart disease or diabetes, your LDL goal is less than 100 mg/dL. Triglyceride is the most common type of fat in the body. Many people who have heart disease or diabetes have high triglyceride levels. Normal triglyceride levels vary by age and sex. A high triglyceride level combined with low HDL cholesterol or high LDL cholesterol seems to speed up atherosclerosis (the buildup of fatty deposits in artery walls). Atherosclerosis increases the risk for heart attack and stroke. Triglyceride Level Category Less than 150 mg/dL Normal 150–199 mg/dL Borderline high 200–499 mg/dL High 500 mg/dL and above Very high On the whole, Americans should reduce the amount of saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol and total fat in their diet. If you have high blood cholesterol, it's very important to control high blood pressure, avoid tobacco smoke, eat a healthy diet, get regular physical activity, maintain a healthy weight, and control or delay the onset of diabetes. Taking these steps will help lower your risk of heart disease and stroke. If you still need drugs to reduce your blood cholesterol, a healthy diet and active lifestyle will help lower your cholesterol and improve your overall cardiovascular health. † Electronic 10-year risk calculators are available at http://hp2010.nhlbihin.net/atpiii/calculator.asp?usertype=pub. Related AHA Scientific Statements Cholesterol Related AHA publications: Heart and Stroke Facts Your Guide to Lowering Your Cholesterol with TLC - Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes Making Healthy Food and Lifestyle Choices brochure Easy Food Tips for Heart-Healthy Eating brochure (also in Spanish) "What Do My Cholesterol Levels Mean?" and "How Can I Lower High Cholesterol?" in Answers By Heart kit (also in Spanish kit) "What Are High Blood Cholesterol and Triglycerides?" and "What Is Cholesterol-Lowering Medicine?" in Answers By Heart kit |
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The CardioChek Blood Testing Device helps monitor cholesterol. With the CardioChek instrument and the PTS panels test strips, you now have an entire health management system in the palm of your hand. The CardioChek is a hand-held medical diagnostics system that monitors key health indicators, including total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and triglycerides, plus blood glucose and ketones -- all in the comfort of your own home. The CardioChek blood testing device provides the tools for meeting cholesterol screening management guidelines. Only PTS can provide this wide of a range of whole blood testing in a portable, easy-to-use system, with clinically accurate results. The system includes a meter instrument, but you'll have to purchase the test strips to meet your needs. This simple blood test system displays the results of your blood test in about one minute, with accurate results every time. Unlike other systems that only test one specific health indicator -- such as cholesterol or blood glucose -- the CardioChek meter allows you to test a range of key health indicators. And, because of CardioChek's modular PTS panels technology, the device can never become obsolete; it is designed to run new tests as they are developed. |
| The CardioChek home health test kit may reduce your risk from the complications of heart disease. Most important is good glycemic control through diet, exercise, blood monitoring and medication. The CardioChek glucose monitor and cholesterol tester is the first and only complete health management product that can perform multiple tests on one device. You'll find this device to be useful and discreet as it provides you with all the information you need to for effective cholesterol screen management. CardioChek is one of the only devices on the market that provides this wide of a range of whole blood testing in a portable, easy-to-use system, with clinically accurate results in just a few short minutes. In addition to testing, the CardioChek also features an internal memory for storing results for quick and easy review. |
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Color-coded strips and MEMo chips provide easy identification and correct calibration. As new tests become approved, the device is easily upgraded to include new test chemistries. |
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The prescription drug Crestor, also known as rosuvastatin, is produced by AstraZeneca and is used to lower
cholesterol levels and treat various lipid disorders. Crestor belongs to class of drugs called statins that
are often prescribed to lower harmful cholesterol levels. Statins such as Crestor work by reducing the
production of an enzyme which causes the liver to produce cholesterol. Other statin drugs include Mevacor,
Pravacor, Zocor, Lescol or Lipitor. |
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Crestor was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in August 2003, after much delay due to
safety concerns. Despite questions about safety about Crestor, AstraZeneca has aggressively marketed
Crestor, spending over $1 billion to promote Crestor in its first year. The manufacturer has marketed
Crestor as a "super statin", claiming that it lowers harmful cholesterol levels better than other
competing statins. Safety concerns prompted AstraZeneca to withdraw the 80 mg. dose of Crestor and many critics still express concern over the 40 mg. dose. In May 2004, AstraZeneca, wrote doctors in Britain urging them to start patients on a mere 10-milligram dose of Crestor because of concern about the muscle-destroying condition, rhabdomyolysis. Another statin drug, Baycol was recalled in August 2001 after reports of over 100 deaths worldwide due to rhabdomyolysis. The new drug Trilipix (fenofibric acid) is the first and only fibrate cholesterol medication that is FDA-approved to be used with a statin cholesterol medication to help improve all three cholesterol numbers (good cholesterol, bad cholesterol, and triglycerides). Trilipix belongs to a class of drugs known as fibric acid derivatives (also known as fibrates). It works by increasing the activity of an enzyme (lipoprotein lipase) that breaks down triglyceride-rich particles and increases their removal from the body. The medication can also decrease the amount of these particles that are made and released from the liver. Trilipix is made by Abbott Laboratories. |
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For the last several months, patient Nataliya has been trying to improve her cholesterol and triglycerides
levels. In order to achieve her goal, every day she takes one capsule of Red Yeast Rice that definitely
contains Monascus purpureus (600 mg) and eat products that contain Omega-3, such as salmon, fish oil
(1000 mg) and walnuts. In addition, her dietary intake includes garlic, flex seeds, large amounts of
fruits and vegetables, oats and mango. She also have an active lifestyle; her job requires her
to move a lot and she exercise outdoors every day for about 20-30 minutes. 1. As a result of the changes in her dietary intake, she has seen a significant improvement. 2. In less than a year, her triglycerides changed by more than 400 points: 532 (03/23/2009) - 362 (09/15/2009) - 130 (01/27/2010) (the normal level is more than 40). Her HDL (good cholesterol) improved from 40 to 70 (the normal level is more than 40); Total cholesterol improved from 301 to 266 (the normal level is less than 200). The bad cholesterol (LDL) is calculated as follows: LDL = [Total cholesterol - HDL - (Triglycerides / 5)] Her LDL also improved from 174 to 170 (the normal level is less than 130). 2. According to some medical studies, the most important factor in making decisions about appropriate treatments is the number of risk factors that a person possesses. We considered all of her risk factors. They are: - age - Men more than 45, Women > 55; in her case this risk factor is zero (she is 51); - smoking; in her case this risk factor is zero; - high BP; in her case this risk factor is zero; - family history of premature CHF (heart failure in early age); in her case this risk factor may be one; - HDL less than 40 (good cholesterol level); in her case this risk factor is zero, because her HDL is 70. In addition, because her HDL is higher than 60, we can negate one risk factor. So, if her risk factors are in the 0 - 1 bracket, should she start modifying her lifestyle if her LDL is more or equal to 160, and should she start using drugs if her LDL is more or equal to 190. Her resent electrocardiogram and echogram were normal too! Nevertheless, on January 29, 2010, her doctor didn’t take into account all above-mentioned facts and recommended that she start taking Crestor. She already bought Crestor, but we think that she should continue to follow a non-pharmacological, wholesome (healthy dietary intake and exercise) approach. Now her total cholesterol dropped to a mark in the 226 mg / dL, LDL to 146mg/dL, HDL to 63 mg / dL and triglycerides to 87 mg / dL respectively. |
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Original Red Yeast Rice: $1.23 - 114 g. Red yeast rice has been used in the Orient for hundred of years. Since 800 A.D. this substance has been employed by the Chinese as both a food and a medicine. Its therapeutic benefits as both a promoter of blood circulation and a digestive stimulant were first noted in the traditional Chinese pharmacopoeia, Ben Cao Gang Mu-Dan Shi Bu Yi, during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). In China, red yeast rice formerly was used to treat abdominal pain due to what they call stagnant blood and dysentery, as well as for both external as well as internal trauma. In addition to its therapeutic applications, red yeast rice has been used for centuries as a flavor enhancer, a food preservative, and a base for a Taiwanese alcoholic rice-wine beverage. In the past decades red yeast rice is being used in China for the same reasons statins are being used in the U.S. and elsewhere for control of cardiovascular diseases |
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$14.00 - Twin Pack: 600 mg, 60 Capsules ea. Contains: Red Yeast Rice Powder (Monascus purpureus) - 600 mg/per capsule. |
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In one high-profile study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition in 1999,
83 people with high cholesterol took either 2,400 milligrams of red yeast rice or a placebo
every day for three months. At the end of the study, the group taking red yeast rice had,
on average, cut about 50 points from their LDL cholesterol -- a reduction of about 20%. Red Yeast Rice to Treat Cholesterol Problems in Patients Who Cannot Tolerate Statin Therapy Because of Muscle Pain What is the problem and what is known about it so far? Abnormal cholesterol levels put people at risk for health problems, including heart attack and stroke. Higher levels of "good cholesterol,"known as high-density lipoprotein (HDL), protect blood vessels against blockage by fatty deposits, whereas "bad cholesterol," known as low-density lipoprotein (LDL), worsens fatty deposits. Treatment of cholesterol problems with medication is recommended for people at high risk for these health problems. Statins are a class of medications that are very effective at lowering LDL cholesterol levels to the desired range, and they have had few side effects. However, in some people, statins can cause muscle pain (myalgias) and weakness. In most cases, people experience muscle pain without muscle damage. If there is muscle damage, the condition is called myopathy. Some patients who need cholesterol-lowering treatments cannot take statins because of muscle pain. Red yeast rice is a dietary supplement that has been shown in some studies to lower LDL cholesterol levels. Red yeast rice could be an option for patients with cholesterol problems who cannot take statins. Who was studied? 62 patients with high cholesterol levels and a history of stopping statin therapy because of muscle pain. How was the study done? The researchers assigned patients at random to receive either three 600-mg red yeast rice capsules or 3 placebo capsules twice per day for 24 weeks. The placebo capsules looked, tasted, and smelled like the red yeast rice capsules but contained no active ingredients to lower cholesterol levels. All patients were also enrolled in a 12-week program to improve diet and exercise. What did the researchers find? During the 24 weeks of the study, LDL cholesterol levels decreased more in patients receiving red yeast rice (average decrease, 35 mg/dL) than in patients receiving placebo (average decrease, 15 mg/dL). Total cholesterol levels also improved more in the red yeast rice group than in the placebo group. Muscle pain scores, HDL cholesterol levels, weight loss, and liver or muscle enzyme levels did not differ between groups. What were the limitations of the study? The study was too small and too short to know whether the observed improvements, continued over the long term, would lead to better health outcomes in people who received red yeast rice. What are the implications of the study? Red yeast rice capsules may offer patients an option for lowering their LDL and total cholesterol levels if they cannot receive statins because of muscle pain. Tolerability of red yeast rice (2,400 mg twice daily) versus pravastatin (20 mg twice daily) in patients with previous statin intolerance. Halbert SC, French B, Gordon RY, Farrar JT, Schmitz K, Morris PB, Thompson PD, Rader DJ, Becker DJ. Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. "Currently, no consensus has been reached regarding the management of hyperlipidemia in patients who develop statin-associated myalgia (SAM). Many statin-intolerant patients use alternative lipid-lowering therapies, including red yeast rice. The present trial evaluated the tolerability of red yeast rice versus pravastatin in patients unable to tolerate other statins because of myalgia. The study was conducted in a community-based setting in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. A total of 43 adults with dyslipidemia and a history of statin discontinuation because of myalgia were randomly assigned to red yeast rice 2,400 mg twice daily or pravastatin 20 mg twice daily for 12 weeks. All subjects were concomitantly enrolled in a 12-week therapeutic lifestyle change program. The primary outcomes included the incidence of treatment discontinuation because of myalgia and a daily pain severity score. The secondary outcomes were muscle strength and plasma lipids. The incidence of withdrawal from medication owing to myalgia was 5% (1 of 21) in the red yeast rice group and 9% (2 of 22) in the pravastatin group (p = 0.99). The mean pain severity did not differ significantly between the 2 groups. No difference was found in muscle strength between the 2 groups at week 4 (p = 0.61), week 8 (p = 0.81), or week 12 (p = 0.82). The low-density lipoprotein cholesterol level decreased 30% in the red yeast rice group and 27% in the pravastatin group. In conclusion, red yeast rice was tolerated as well as pravastatin and achieved a comparable reduction of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in a population previously intolerant to statins. Copyright 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved." |
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Fish Oil Omega-3 fatty acids, or fish oil, are polyunsaturated fats found in fish, fish oil, and in the form of supplements. They typically consist of a combination of polyunsaturated fatty acids that include DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid). Polyunsaturated fats, especially EPA and DHA, have a reputation for being heart-friendly fats because they do not promote atherosclerosis associated with causing heart disease. Previous research has shown that individuals consuming omega-3 fatty acids have decreased risk of sudden death from heart disease. Recent research has indicated that it may also lower the risk for heart disease by improving your lipid profile. So, does it help lower triglyceride and cholesterol levels? |
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The Studies Look Promising The usual dose used in these studies ranges between 900 mg and 5 grams a day of a combination of EPA and DHA. In order to achieve this amount, one would need to consume a lot of fish. Therefore, supplements are typically used. Ingesting 900 mg of omega-3 fatty acids each day resulted in a 4-percent decrease in triglyceride levels after six months. The average effective dose used in most studies was between 2 to 4 grams, and this resulted in an average drop in triglycerides between 25 to 45 percent. The effectiveness of omega-3 fatty acids on triglycerides is dose-dependent, meaning that the more omega-3 fatty acids ingested, the lower your triglyceride levels will fall. This works best when following a healthy diet. Omega-3 fatty acids seemed to affect recently ingested triglycerides more. Additionally, individuals with extremely high triglyceride levels (greater than 500 mg/dL) seem to derive the most benefit from omega-3 fatty acid supplementation. Although it can lower triglyceride levels, it may slightly raise low density lipoproteins (known also as LDL or the "bad" cholesterol). This change, however, is modest and ranges from 3 to 10 percent. High density lipoproteins (also known as HDL or the "good" cholesterol) do not seem to be affected by omega-3 fatty acid supplementation, if not slightly increased. How Much Should I Take Each Day? Omega-3 fatty acids are either available as a prescription or as a supplement at your local pharmacy or nutritional store. One gram of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation a day would cause a decrease in triglycerides and would help prevent sudden death from heart disease. An average of four grams of omega-3 fatty acids are typically used to reduce triglycerides in individuals with high trigylceride levels. It is recommended that individuals taking more than 3 grams a day should be under the supervision of a health-care provider, since high doses of omega-3 fatty acids decrease the aggregation of platelets, which may cause bleeding to occur more easily. What is the Difference Between Prescription Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Over-The-Counter Supplements? Prescription omega-3 fatty acids (Omacor®) contain a certain amount of EPA and DHA, are purified, and are thoroughly rid of impurities such as trans-fats, mercury, or other contaminants. Supplements that are available over the counter are classified as "foods" by the Food and Drug Administration. Therefore, they do not have to undergo the rigorous purification processes or efficacy studies that prescription drugs have to go through. |
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Flax Seeds Flaxseed contains a substance called alpha linolenic acids. Alpha linolenic acid is omega 3 fatty acid, similar to those found in fish such as salmon. Omega 3 fatty acid is a type of essential fatty acid, which can only be acquired from food. Flaxseed contains a substance called alpha linolenic acids. Alpha linolenic acid is omega 3 fatty acid, similar to those found in fish such as salmon. Omega 3 fatty acid is a type of essential fatty acid, which can only be acquired from food. |
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Studies on flax seed and cholesterol treatment to lower cholesterol, show that it reduces cholesterol by
about 6 percent. In one study by Bahram Arjmandi, Ph.D., of Oklahoma State University, supplements of
ground flax seed and cholesterol lowering effects, showed a reduction in cholesterol and reduce a heart
disease-promoting protein in postmenopausal women. In the double-blind crossover study, 38 women with extremely high cholesterol levels were given bread and muffins containing 38 g of either sunflower or flaxseed four daily. After six weeks, subjects were taken off the supplemented food for two weeks and then switched to food made with the other flour for six weeks. Flaxseed lowered total cholesterol by 6.9 percent and LDL (bad) cholesterol by 14.7 percent. However, only ground flaxseed has such effects on cholesterol; whole flaxseed is not digestible. This shows that flax seed and cholesterol lowering effect of flax seed is real. However, probably more studies are needed to have a conclusive proof of flax seed treatment to reduce cholesterol. If you want to include flaxseed in your diet use it moderately. There are a lot of food products that contain flaxseed such as bread, cereal and bakery goods. Flaxseed contains more omega-3 fatty acid by weight compared to fish oil. However, omega-3 in flaxseeds comes in the form of alpha-linolenic, which needs to be converted to EPA (the active ingredient of omega-3 fatty acid) at the ratio of 10:1 and, therefore, the amount of conversion is limited. However, one of the major problems of fish oil is that people who take it develop a fishy "burp" that is harmless, but somewhat irritating because of a fishy after taste. If the after taste proves bothersome, flaxseed is a good alternative. |
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Salmon
Omega-3 fatty acids found in salmon is an excellent source to boost
up HDL in your blood stream.
Omega-3 fatty acid is, indeed, a type of polyunsaturated fatty acids which can only be supplied by food
sources. A study chaired by Gary J. Nelson, Ph.D., of the U.S. Dept of Agriculture's Western Human
Nutrition Research Center in San Francisco, showed that HDL increased by 10% by just eating 20 days
of a high salmon diet! Moderation is the key. Include salmon (or other fish with high omega-3 content such us sardines and tuna) to your meals occasionally and enjoy its health benefits. |
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Salmon oil supplements are available on the market. Check with your doctor before
consuming these pills as a single pill is more concentrated in Omega 3 fatty acids than
1 serving of salmon. Caution: Do not take salmon oil supplements if you are taking a blood thinner drug as salmon oil supplements may further thin your blood. |
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Oats David J.A. Jenkins, M.D., from the University of Toronto, Canada and his colleagues studied a group of adults with high cholesterol levels to determine whether a specific type of diet that includes soy protein, plant sterols (naturally occurring components of all plants mainly found in vegetable oils, vegetables and fruits) and soluble fibers (oats, barley, psyllium) would reduce cholesterol levels as much as a cholesterol-lowering drug (a statin). LDL-cholesterol levels decrease 30 percent on both the diet and statin therapy. Both interventions also decreased C-reactive protein levels - a strong indicator of risk for heart disease. |
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Walnuts A new study published in the current issue of the Journal of Nutrition shows that walnuts have a similar beneficial effect on cholesterol levels and C-reactive protein (CRP), an inflammation marker that is strongly associated with atherosclerosis and heart disease. Walnuts contain alpha-linolenic acid or ALA, an omega-3 fatty acid similar to those found in heart-smart fish, such as salmon. Alpha-linolenic acid has a number of heart-healthy effects, independent of its cholesterol-lowering effects. It has been shown in previous studies to reduce the risk of sudden death from dangerous abnormal heart rhythms. |
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The study involved 20 men in their late 30s to age 60, and three menopausal women aged 55 to 65.
All participants were overweight or obese, had elevations in their cholesterol and "bad" LDL cholesterol
levels, and represented typical Americans at high risk for cardiovascular disease. None of the participants were taking cholesterol-lowering drugs or anti-inflammatory medications, both of which could have altered the results of the study. Each person was assigned to one of three diets on a rotating six-week basis with a two-week break between each one: The average American diet (AAD) (which served as a control diet); the linoleic acid diet (another omega-3 fatty acid), which included an ounce of walnuts and a teaspoon of walnut oil; and the alpha-linolenic acid diet, which combined the linoleic acid diet with a teaspoon of flaxseed oil. Flaxseed oil is particular high in ALA. Walnuts Improve Cholesterol Levels Both the linoleic acid diet and the alpha-linolenic acid diet are high in polyunsaturated fats. Substituting dietary saturated fats with these good polyunsaturated fats lowers "bad" LDL cholesterol. The study found that C-reactive protein levels dropped nearly 75% when patients consumed diets rich in alpha-linolenic acid, and decreased about 45% when they were on the linoleic acid diet, when compared with the typical American diet. Compared with the average American diet, the diets high in polyunsaturated fats were also shown to significantly lower the levels of other inflammatory markers involved in atherosclerosis called adhesion molecules. The two diets high in polyunsaturated fat, such as those found in walnuts, were also shown to have a favorable effect on cholesterol levels, lowering total cholesterol by 11% and lowering "bad" LDL cholesterol by 11%-12%, compared with the average American diet. "The important new finding with our research is that a diet high in walnuts beneficially affects multiple risk factors for coronary heart disease, which can have a greater impact on decreasing cardiovascular risk than just targeting single risk factors," author and Penn State nutritionist Penny Kris-Etherton, PhD, says in a press release. In March 2004, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said that foods containing walnuts could be labeled as a heart-healthy food. Specifically, the new FDA-approved health claim reads: "Supportive but not conclusive research shows that eating 1.5 ounces of walnuts per day, as part of a low saturated fat and low-cholesterol diet, and not resulting in increased caloric intake may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease." |
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Mangoes A mango a day may one day protect against diabetes and high cholesterol, a preliminary study suggests. The study is analyzing how individual components of the luscious summer favourite affect human cells. And early results, presented at the Australian Health and Medical Research Congress in Melbourne this week, suggest that some mango components act on the same pathways that diabetes and cholesterol drugs target. University of Queensland PhD student Ashley Wilkinson says the study, the first of its kind, aims to find unique ingredients in mangoes and other tropical fruit like paw paws. "There's been a lot of research looking at nutritional bioactives but it's focused on more temperate fruit and vegetables like broccoli and grapes. And there hasn't been any research looking at tropical fruit in the context of looking at modulating cellular processes," she says. |
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Dr Sarah Roberts-Thomson of the university's school of pharmacy, who is supervising the work, says early
results suggest some compounds in mangoes work by activating or inhibiting groups of receptors known
as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors, or PPARs. "We don't know yet how the whole thing's going to play out but we know some of the individual components activate these receptors or even inhibit them," she says. "That could end up with positive nutritional health benefits for diabetes and high cholesterol." PPARs are also increasingly being linked to colon and breast cancer, and the study will investigate whether compounds in mangoes can also kill cancerous cells. One of the compounds the researchers are focusing on is quercetin, a chemical also found in onions. Another is norathyriol, a by-product of mangiferin, which is found in a range of fruits and traditional antidiabetic herbs. Gut bacteria convert mangiferin into norathyriol, Wilkinson says. Once converted, it appears to have an even more potent affect on PPARs. Preliminary findings also suggest that mango skin, often a component of mango juice, is particularly rich in these compounds, Roberts-Thomson says. A long way down the track these compounds could be isolated to form alternative treatments for metabolic disorders like diabetes and high cholesterol, she says. |
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Pumpkin seeds Pumpkin seeds provide a wide range of necessary daily nutrients, such as fibers, healthy fats and protein. They are also a great source of minerals such as magnesium, manganese, zinc, iron and copper. Pumpkin seeds can also be beneficial for people with high cholesterol levels. Pumpkin seeds are rich in phytosterols (compounds found in plants similar to cholesterol and active in reducing cholesterol when present in a large quantities), and as such could be part of a low cholesterol diet. |
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