Soy Products

Everyone knows that high cholesterol increases the risk of heart attacks and strokes, while lowering cholesterol reduces the risk and keeps the heart and blood vessels healthy. Statins are the drugs most often prescribed to lower cholesterol, but they often produce serious side effects including liver irritation, muscle pain and degeneration, and significant depletion of CoQ10 in the body, a deficit that can actually lead to heart disease.

"While reducing total or 'bad' LDL cholesterol has been the primary focus of cholesterol management strategies, recent research indicates that raising 'good' HDL cholesterol levels may provide even greater protection against cardiovascular disease," says Dennis Goodman, MD, former Chief of Cardiology and Medical Director of the Cardiac Treatment Center at Scripps Memorial Hospital in La Jolla, California. "It is estimated that every 1 percent increase in HDL can decrease the risk for heart disease by 2 percent in men and 3 percent in women," he explains. "This is especially important because a low HDL level is one of the most common cholesterol problems found in people with heart disease."

In a 6-month pilot study completed at Scripps Memorial Hospital in 2003, Dr. Goodman and principal investigator George Dennish, MD, tested a comprehensive cardiovascular nutritional supplement and found that it increased HDL up to 23 percent, a statistically significant rise that would also indicate reduced risk of heart disease. The study, which involved 50 patients with varying cardiovascular histories, found no serious adverse effects following supplementation and demonstrated the combination is safe to use with statin drugs.

The vitamins and minerals in the heart-healthy supplement included vitamins C, E, B6, B12, niacin, folic acid, magnesium and selenium, with protein-building amino acids, powerful antioxidants, such as coenzyme Q10, alpha lipoic acid (ALA), N-acetyl cysteine (NAC), and policosanol, and extracts of hawthorn, garlic, grape seed, soy isoflavones, all of which have been shown to beneficially affect heart health.

After three months of supplementation, good cholesterol levels increased in all groups and the overall lipid profile (i.e., HDL, HDL-2, triglycerides, homocysteine) had improved. The changes were more pronounced at the six-month marker, when levels of HDL-2 (the very best cholesterol) rose up to 24.4 percent. Additionally, the supplement helped reduce triglycerides levels by approximately 30 percent. These changes were even more impressive in "at risk" groups (i.e., those with HDL levels of less than 40) where total HDL increased by 23 percent after six months, HDL-2 rose by 50 percent, and triglycerides decreased by nearly 40 percent. Decreases in homocysteine, an amino acid found in the blood that has been inversely linked to cardiovascular health, were observed as well.

"Since we know that an increase in HDL - as little as one percent - can reduce heart disease risk by two to three percent, these findings have powerful implications for the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease," says Dr. Goodman. "We are excited by these findings because they show the efficacy of essential vitamins and minerals, at levels recommended by the American Heart Association, along with important amino acids, potent antioxidants and traditional herbal extracts for cardiovascular protection without the risk of serious side effects." Dr. Goodman concludes, "This research could open a new chapter in cardiovascular therapy that will complement, improve upon, and in certain cases, even replace drug-dominated treatments."

From The Soy Daily

# posted by PV @ 2:50 PM