Supplements For Cholesterol?

[tdog333]

I'm currently taking a med which is messing my cholesterol up a bit.

My overall cholesterol is good, but my LDL is a bit high, and my HDL is a bit low.

Is there anything besides niacin that helps raise HDL or lower LDL?

 

[adreno]

Pantethine.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24600231

 

[Mary]

Is there anything besides niacin that helps raise HDL or lower LDL?

Why don't you want to take niacin? I started taking niacin about 2 years ago because it helped me a lot with sleep - it stimulates or sensitizes GABA receptors. It does make me tired if I take it during the day, so I don't take it then. But it's great at night. And then as an unintended side effect I found that it lowered my cholesterol.

If you do try niacin, do not get time-release or extended release - those forms have been associated with liver damage. And non-flushing niacin doesn't do the trick either. I don't mind the flush any more because it usually means I'll be asleep pretty soon.

 

[erin]

I managed to lower my cholesterol (was not to high) and other liver enzymes with artichoke tea. My neighbour grows them in her garden and kindly gave me some dried leaves of the petals. I simply fused them in hot water for 5 minutes and add a lemon wedge and drank it. Tasted quite pleasant. I'm sure you can get them dried in health shops.

 

[JaimeS]

Artichoke does have that rep. Never tried it myself.

Lowering your sugar intake may well decrease your cholesterol.

 

[erin]

@JaimeS, lowering sugar intake is very helpful for over all symptoms. Whilst doing this I found olive leaf tea is helpful. Similar recipe of the artichoke, instead olive leaves, fresh leaves are better than the dried ones. This tea helps lowering the blood sugar.

 

[JaimeS]

Thanks @erin you're not the first to mention olive leaf. I think @JenB uses it... if I recall correctly.

 

[CFS_for_19_years]

Life Extension usually has some good suggestions:
http://www.lifeextension.com/Protocols/Heart-Circulatory/Cholesterol-Management/Page-01

http://www.lifeextension.com/Protocols/Heart-Circulatory/Cholesterol-Management/Page-les

Inhibiting Cholesterol Synthesis

• Pantethine: 400 – 1200 mg daily
• Red Yeast Rice: 600 – 1200 mg daily
• Garlic; standardized extract: 1500 – 3000 mg daily
• Amla (Indian gooseberry); standardized extract: 500 – 1000 mg daily
• Gynostemma pentaphyllum (G. pentaphyllum) extract: 450 mg daily preferably in divided doses
• Statin drug (lowest dose needed to optimize LDL levels (ideally below 80 mg/dL)
• Rose hip extract (std. to 5% trans-tiliroside): 1119 mg daily preferably in divided doses

Inhibiting Absorption of Dietary Cholesterol

• Dietary Fiber: 25 – 30 grams daily
• Prebiotics: 5000 – 10 000 mg daily
• Plant Sterols: 600 – 1200 mg daily
• Soy isoflavones: 54 – 108 mg daily

Enhancing Cholesterol Elimination

• Artichoke Leaf; standardized extract: 500 – 1000 mg daily

Inhibiting Oxidation and Glycation of LDL

• CoQ10 (as ubiquinol): 100 – 300 mg daily
• High Gamma Tocopherol Vitamin E: 350 – 700 mg daily
• Pomegranate; standardized extract: 500 – 1000 mg daily
• Beta Carotene: 25 000 IU daily
• Lycopene: 15 – 30 mg daily
• Trans-Resveratrol: 250 – 500 mg daily
• Green tea; standardized extract: 700 – 1400 mg daily
• Black Tea; standardized extract: 350 – 700 mg daily
• Curcumin: 400 – 800 mg daily

Optimizing the Lipid Profile

• Niacin: 1000 – 2500 mg daily
• Omega 3 fatty acids (EPA and DHA): 1400 mg of EPA 1000 mg DHA daily
• Alpha-cyclodextrin: 2000 – 4000 mg daily
• Lactobacillus reuteri (NCIMB 30242): 5 billion colony forming units (CFUs) daily

Improving reverse cholesterol transport

• Testosterone replacement (men)

 

[tdog333]

Why don't you want to take niacin? I started taking niacin about 2 years ago because it helped me a lot with sleep - it stimulates or sensitizes GABA receptors. It does make me tired if I take it during the day, so I don't take it then. But it's great at night. And then as an unintended side effect I found that it lowered my cholesterol.

If you do try niacin, do not get time-release or extended release - those forms have been associated with liver damage. And non-flushing niacin doesn't do the trick either. I don't mind the flush any more because it usually means I'll be asleep pretty soon.

I have a really bad methylation profile, so niacin makes me feel weird mentally, and b12+folate makes me feel weird mentally too, so I try to be careful with methylation-type sups.

 

[tdog333]

Life Extension usually has some good suggestions:
http://www.lifeextension.com/Protocols/Heart-Circulatory/Cholesterol-Management/Page-01

http://www.lifeextension.com/Protocols/Heart-Circulatory/Cholesterol-Management/Page-les

Thanks! I have a lot of that laying around the house so that is very helpful!

 

[Mary]

I have a really bad methylation profile, so niacin makes me feel weird mentally, and b12+folate makes me feel weird mentally too, so I try to be careful with methylation-type sups.

I'm sorry to hear that! Yeah, many people on this board have similar issues. Good luck, there are a lot of good suggestions above, hopefully some will help you --