Cholesterol, High Cholesterol

Combination of natural agents vs. placebo for high cholesterol:

Eighty elderly subjects over the age of 75 with high cholesterol were evaluated after taking red yeast rice. The subjects received either a placebo or a pill containing 500 mg of berberine, 10 mg of policosanol, 200 mg of red yeast rice, 0.2 mg of folic acid, 2 mg of CoQ10, and 0.5 mg of astaxanthin. Policosanol, a compound derived from sugar cane, has been shown to enhance healthy cholesterol metabolism. Berberine is derived from various plants used for immune and cardiovascular support. The subjects were assessed for lipid levels at the beginning of the study and again after 3, 6, and 12 months of supplementation. The results of the study showed that the supplement group showed a 20% improvement in total cholesterol, a 31% improvement in LDL cholesterol, and a 10% improvement in insulin resistance. No change was seen in HDL. The study also demonstrated that safety, tolerability, and compliance were high. (133)