garlic supplements for cholesterol lowering - High Cholesterol Message Board

LadyD392 · 06-02-2005, 10:17 PM

I am new to this board,but am finding it very informative. I am 50 yrs old and have always had high cholesterol around 220 to 240. It runs in my family. my dr. said if i watch my diet and exercize he would think of postponing taking statins. Well i do all the right things and have started taking garlinaise 4000. Reasearched it and thought it would be good to help lower my count. Took my last blood test after being on it for 3 months and my dr. called me and said my counts went up to 280 and i have to take a statin now. he questioned what was going on--why the change? I understand that the garlic can actually elevate the levels initially. the company told me it takes 16 weeks at least to see changes. Should i stop the garlinais? or take lipitor?

Lenin · 06-03-2005, 07:34 AM

Lady,
I guess garlic for 3 months didn't work for you. This should not surprise you. At least you can be reasonably sure it didn't hurt you. Unless the "garlinase" is a radical departure from plain old garlic.
I get mine in PASTA ALIA e OLIO.
I take Lipitor, too.

and you must make your own decision about that but what you HAVE discovered is that the garlinase, whatever that is, belongs in the toilet! You can take the statin or work your way though the hundreds of supplements that claim cholesterol control. Don't be surprised, though, if they are all a crock.
There is one exception: nicotinic acid (niacin) in several grams a day dosage has been PROVEN to improve blood lipid numbers, especially HDL.
Do you have your last breakdown (LDL HDL and triglycerides?)

HubbleRules · 06-03-2005, 04:45 PM

Lady,

THere are a few on this site (Lenin being one) who are radically opposed to all supplements (except Niacin) - so don't be conned into Statins based on one person's subjective opinion.

Many have been helped by statins, but many (I suspect far more than we have been told) have been seriously harmed by them.

Read some of the past posts on this site, and do some independent research on your own.

Do you want to be on a prescription medicine for the rest of your life? - because that is exactly what will happen if you go on statins.

Try some lifestyle changes before taking any cholesterol meds (reduce intake of saturated fat, anything with the word 'Hydrogenated' in the ingredient list, get more exercise, maintain a normal weight, cut back on sweets and alcohol, and eat more fruits and veggies. Concentrate on carbs that have a low glycemic index. And EXERCISE if you don't already. Avoid margarine and butter, use Olive Oil. Some useful supplements are: Omega-3 Fish Oil, Niacin (you may need time to get used to it -start off slow), NATURAL vitamin-E, folic acid, CoQ10...

HubbleRules

ARIZONA73 · 06-03-2005, 05:47 PM

LadyD392,

Can you please provide your HDL, LDL, and triglycerides? A total cholesterol number alone doesn't say very much.

Garlic may or may not lower total cholesterol. Certainly it shouldn't raise it. If it raises anything, it should be your HDL. I've found that a garlic supplement which has been standardized for at least 4000mcg allicin has helped boost my HDL. I believe that Garlinase is also standardized for allicin, and is one of the better known garlic supplements.

Regardless of whether or not it lowers your total cholesterol, garlic is still beneficial in other respects. A study in Germany showed that taking garlic supplements increases the flexibility of the aorta, the main artery carrying blood from your heart to the rest of your body. The aorta naturally stiffens with age, but the aorta of the garlic-takers in the German study was on average 15 percent more elastic than that of other men in the same age group. Another German study suggests that garlic not only prevents the buildup of plaque in arteries but may even reduce it. Patients who took garlic supplements markedly slowed their rate of plaque buildup compared to the control group.

vipergg22 · 06-03-2005, 06:02 PM

If you are looking for supplements then there have been studies done by the USDA indicating that taking small cinnamon capsules (1 gram) once a day can lower levels from like 15-30 percent . Also lowers blood glucose levels by almost as much. this is right off the the USDA site . Google on cinnamon ,cholesterol levels and you'll find a lot of hits . Just started this a little while ago and haven't had a test yet but i'll let you know once I get a test .