Ldl Cholesterol Lowering Vitamins

Cholesterol and Vitamins for Cholesterol

Cholesterol is used to build cell membranes and hormones and is made by the liver. The body can produce all of the cholesterol that it needs, so we don’t need to ingest it. It is possible however to have too much cholesterol in the blood stream if the died includes foods that are high in saturated fat. This can block the flow of blood and increase the risk of heart attack or stroke.

Not all cholesterol is bad however. Cholesterol attaches itself to lipoproteins to travel through the bloodstream. Low density lipoprotein (LDL) is said to be the ‘bad’ cholesterol that clogs up the arteries. High density lipoprotein (LDL) however is referred to as ‘good’ cholesterol because it helps to take the LDL out of the blood stream. It’s important to keep overall levels of cholesterol low and ensure that there is a much higher ratio of HDL to LDL.

It is recommended that total amounts of cholesterol do not exceed 5.5mmols per litre. The best way to do this is to avoid foods that are high in saturated fats including full cream dairy products, fatty meats and snack foods to name a few. Alcohol should also be limited to two standard drinks a day and smoking should be avoided. It’s also important to exercise and to maintain a health weight. There are also some foods including legumes, nuts, cereals, fruit and sunflower seeds which have been shown to reduce levels of LDL.

Sometimes diet and lifestyle changes are not enough and individuals with high cholesterol may need to turn to vitamins or medication. A few vitamin supplements have been said to help reduce cholesterol including Policosanol, Omega-3s, Vitamin C and Vitamin E.

Policosanol is made from the waxy coating of sugar cane. When 5-10mg of Policosanol is ingested each day, it has been shown to reduce overall cholesterol by 8-18%, reduce LDL by 11-28% and increase HDL by 17-29%.

Omega-3s are polyunsaturated fatty acids that are found in large amounts in Flaxseed Oil. Studies have shown that a diet rich in Omega-3 fatty acids may help lower LDL and increase LDL cholesterol levels. The suggested amount of flaxseed oil for individuals with high cholesterol is 1 tablespoon of flaxseed oil 2-3 times a day with meals.

Vitamin C and Vitamin e are both antioxidants which are said to help protect the body from the effects of LDL cholesterol oxidation. Recommended dosage is 60mg of Vitamin C and 10mg of Vitamin E per day.

Whilst these nutrients are said to have benefits for cholesterol sufferers, you should never substitute qualified medical advice with information found in this article. The author does not give or purport to give any medical or healthcare advice and is not qualified to do so.

For more information about vitamins for arthritis, visit Australia’s vitamin information website and navigate to our vitamins for cholesterol page.

About the Author

Kristy Lee is Webmaser of Australia’s vitamin information website – HealthyComparisons.com.au.
© Kristy Lee 2008 – You may reproduce with links in tact.

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