I have high cholesterol (226) and I also have post-polio syndrome. My muscles are already weak, so I'm concerned about going on Lipitor for my cholesterol as this may make matters worse for my muscles. I have heard that fish oil supplments are good for the heart and may be good for cholesterol. Has anyone out there tried the fish oil (omega-3) supplements and does it work? Thanks for any information. http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/round.gif

VicM - having a TC of 226 is really irrevalent. What really counts is your ratios and Trigs numbers. 226 is not high and you shouldn't worry, HDL should be over 55, LDL under 170, and trigs under 150 to give you good ratios.

There is no such thing as 'good' and 'bad' cholesterol..

Take some time to read what the research from Framingham, MRFITT, LRC actually revealed..Cholesterol is simply a risk marker and certain attributes affect the number; IE age, weight, smoking, exercise, etc..
When we exercise, our HDL goes up..When we smoke, it goes down..As we get older our total cholesterol goes up..So is it healthy for our hearts to have high HDL? Or is it simply healthy to exercise, not smoke, etc...?

Blaming cholesterol numbers on heart attack risk is like using a fever to blame an infection. The summaries of the Framingham study simply ignore the principles of cause and effect..It is up to us to analyze the data properly because we have been blatantly lied to up until this point.

While I would agree that the total cholesterol level is, for the most part irrelevant, there is a definite distinction between HDL and LDL. Oxidized cholesterol is bound to LDL while unoxidized cholesterol is bound to HDL. This would explain why HDL is protective, and why LDL correlates more with heart disease than does total cholesterol. There is also a direct relationship between HDL and triglycerides, which is why a low-fat diet should be avoided. People on a low-fat diet naturally tend to consume more carbohydrates, which drive up triglyceride levels and adversely affect HDL levels, actually worsening their chances of developing heart disease. High HDL levels, on the other hand, often correlate with lower levels of triglycerides. HDL levels can be increased by exercise, moderate alcohol consumption, eating liberal quantities of eggs, meat, and fish, and taking high levels of supplemental vitamins, such as niacin, vitamins C, E, beta carotene, and selenium.

All the info is good but no one has answered the question. I would like to know also. Do fish oils help or not?

Fish oil is best for your Trigs. My hubby has very high Trigs. so they put him on 2,000 mgs. a day and his trigs. came down over 100 pts. He stopped taking them and they went back up, so he is back on them again. I was taking them also but my LDL went way up last test, so I stopped and it came back down, so if it is your trigs. you looking to lower, go for it. Good luck!! http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif JJ

I have never tried to lower cholesterol exclusively through the use of fish oil capsules. I generally take 3 Essential Oils capsules per day in conjunction with several other supplements to maintain a favorable lipid profile. I have heard that fish oil, whether it is acquired via diet or fish oil capsules, has proven to be beneficial for many people. However, if you wish to try to lower cholesterol through the use of fish oil supplements, don't expect to do it by taking one or two capsules a day. You may need to supplement with as much as 8 or 9 grams in order to see any benefits.

JJ:

I am inclined to agree with you. Fish oil is more useful in lowering triglycerides.

Yes, even my dr. wanted me to take them for trigs. even though I don't have a trig problem, but they do tend to sometimes make the ole LDL go up, and that is my problem. I tried to stay off them to see if that is why my LDL jumped so high and sure enough, this time it came down from 189 to 171. Still not great, but hey, I can't have it all! LOL http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/wave.gif JJ

JJ:

That certainly is an interesting phenomenom, the fact that your LDL cholesterol increased while taking the fish oil supplement. All studies have thus far indicated that fish oil directly correlates with a decreased risk of heart disease. So, in light of what you have just told me, that may raise a few questions as to precisely how relevant LDL is in the overall picture. Maybe Atkins was correct when he stated that it was his opinion that low HDL and high triglycerides were more predictable risk factors.

Dr. Sears makes a great fish oil...should help with cholesterol. I get mine at www.fish-oil.us (http://www.fish-oil.us)

[This message has been edited by elle2002 (edited 03-28-2003).]

I have a question for anyone who is using fish oil capsules. I've noticed that it doesn't say anywhere on the bottle that they need to be refrigerated. However, some people, including myself, have been keeping them in the refrigerator. Now, all it really says on the bottle is to keep in a cool, dry place, tightly closed. Depending on what is considered to be a cool, dry place, room temperature may even be sufficient. Actually, it's more a matter of convenience in my case. If it's really not necessary to refrigerate these oils, then I won't. Any additional information would be appreciated.

Arizona,

The capsules I use are kept in the original bottle (non transparent) and in the kitchen cabinet, where temperature inside the house is roughly 75 F. The only shelf life storage advisement for temperature was to keep it < 104 F (no problem indoors usually). I have seen years (I think 3 years) listed as the shelf life time, when stored properly as listed on the bottles (cool, dry place, not exposed to light).

Thanks Ubernier. From now on I'll just keep them together with my other supplements. I was getting a little tired of having to run up and down the stairs just to get a couple of fish oil capsules out of the refrigerator.

Three alternatives to lower cholesterol without prescription you could research on the internet:

1. Niacin Therapy

2. Phytosterols (plant waxes)

2. Esterin Process Alfala (saponins of alfalfa)

The niacin is well documented and the no-flush type has been shown to be as effective as regular niacin

Phytosterols have been shown to decrease cholesterol and are available under various brands in a health food store

The alfalfa product was developed in Europe in the 80's and was verifed by the World Health Organizaiton. I think you can get it in the US under a couple of different names. It was shown to decrease cholesterol by 30% in that WHO study.

Good luck.

Originally posted by ARIZONA73:
I was getting a little tired of having to run up and down the stairs just to get a couple of fish oil capsules out of the refrigerator.

Yes, but look at the exercise you were getting http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif

-Ulrich