High Triglycerides, Help Please with Natural Remedies

New poster to the board. I have had high cholesterol (248) and also the HDL/LDL levels are out of whack. I forget the numbers right now but will call the doctor to find out exactly and post again with them. My triglycerides have been high for a while now and still are (500 range I think, will post definite # tomorrow). The doctor put me on Gemfibrozil, but I have not taken it because I would prefer some natural remedy, if I can find one that will work. As I understand, this Gemfibrozil can cause gastrointestinal side effects, and is "hard" on your liver...(is that true?)

Fish oil, specifically the FISOL brand, has not done it. It did help lower overall cholesterol (from like 280) taking 3 daily for months before my latest test result above. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem to help with my TGs at all.

A little more about me. I am male, 38, 5'11" 175-180 lbs, in good shape and work out regularly. I don't eat a lot of junk food. I make it a point to eat a good variety of fruits/vegetables. I actually like broccoli, brussel sprouts, etc. Unfortunately, I do not like fish...never have. I do like steak (only 6 ozs at a time), but I definitely eat much more chiken than red meat. I don't drink. I do have one piece of cake or some sort of sweet per day, but that's it, 1 per day. I also have 1 coke, no more.

As to carbs, I have probably an average amount....well, compared to the average american, I have equal to or less than average amt of carbs. I'm sure I could cut back, but I doubt it would be enough to drastically change the numbers.

So, I'm thinking this is genetic, but not the Metabolic X that I have read about (no diabetes, blood sugar levels normal, excellent blood pressure (110/60). I do know that my Aunt (Dad's sister) had to go to the hospital for pancreatitis not long ago. Her TGs were much higher, she is older, ~40-50 lbs overweight, never exercises, and smokes, but does not drink.

So, are there some other natural remedies that I can try? I've heard of policosanol....red yeast, something else? If you need any additional info just let me know.

Thanks for reading and I appreciate any help!

P.S. One more question. Does anyone know how long Gemfibrozil has been in use in the U.S. or worldwide? Another reason I'm hesitant to take is because I"m leery of "new" drugs. The FDA in the last 5-10 years has really turned from being an advocate for citizens to "partners" with the drug companies...I just don't trust them to do the due diligence (like the Phen-Phen disaster) they are supposed to do.

One more question. Does anyone know how long Gemfibrozil has been in use in the U.S. or worldwide? Another reason I'm hesitant to take is because I"m leery of "new" drugs.

Liquim,

Gemfibrozil has been around for a coon's age, much longer than statins even. I found an entry for Lopid in my 1987 PDR.

It is specific for people who suffer hypertriglyceridemia as you seem to. It prevents the liver from making new triglycerides from fatty acids and also inhibits VLDL cholesterol formation. Also bosts HDL.

Take it before two meals a day and the drug works much better if dietary cholesterol is kept low.

Policosanol is pretty much a waste of money. Red yeast rice is a weak statin and thus is effective for some people.

What are the rest of your numbers?

Hi Lenin,

Thanks for responding. I apologize I was not able to call the doctor's office. They told me the #'s a month or so ago, but I didn't write them down. I will call them first thing Monday and get the complete #'s so you'll have the complete picture.

Cutting back on carbs would be very effective in lowering your trigs. It cut my number in half. You mention cake and coke, which have lots of suugar, but what about bread, potatoes, pasta, rice, anything made with flour, and many fruits. All of these raise your trigs.

Llquim,

Yes it sounds like a genetic problem to me. That is the kind that most often is resistant to diet changes. The aunt with pancreatitis from hypertriglyceridemia is very telling.

Look further into Metabolic Syndrome...other markers that you didn't mention specifically are a very low HDL and an abundance of abdominal fat. Do these pertain to you?
Of course KNOWING you have Syndrome X and DEALING with it are two different things.

<Make that Coke a Diet Coke. >

I Wonder, if you ever tried "CINNAMON POWDER". Just buy some Natural Cinnamon Sticks from your Local Grocery Shop. Grind the same into Powder and Start taking at Breakfast Just appx. 1 Tea Spoon Daily. The Regular use can give you Better Results from 4th Week. Do Continue. Its Natural & will help in other ways too. Have Smiles & Do "Takecare"

If you are suffering from Metabolic X there is a very good chance that you are low in magnesium. Also a very good chance that you have a thyroid problem. Doctors should be testing Free T3 and it seems they rarely do. It does not make sense since Free T3 is the active part of the thyroid hormone. Most doctors are under the assumption that T4 changes into Free T3 (as it is supposed to)...however as a bio-chemist once told me..... Free T3 is like some doctors, it still can't read. Many women are way over dosed on calcium.. calcium must be given with magnesium or it is of no use. You might be interested in reading some research of Dr. Mildred Seelig, who was the world's leading magnesium specialist. She has done research into the "Metabolic X" syndrome. If doctors want to make a dent in heart disease they should pay more attention to magnesium and thyroid. Most doctors are still using the thyroid TSH values from 2 years ago, and so are the labs.. They don't even have a clue that they have been lowered. (and unlike cholesterol numbers, rightfully so)

Hi everyone, sorry it took so long to get back, but I have old #s and news #s after taking Gemfibrozil for 4 weeks:

Dec
Total 259
HDL 31
LDL Too high to measure
Trigly's 475

Feb
Total 180
HDL 32
LDL 115
Trigly's 164

The Dec #s were with taking fish oil....then I stopped in Jan to see how the Gemfibrozil would do by itself. So, all in all, not too bad. I think going back on the fish oil though would help with get the HDL level a little higher.

As to the last post, Dr. said nothing about magnesium or anything else. So everything is fine otherwise. Gemfibrozil is cheap (compared to all the statins) and seems to have been around for a long time with no bad side effects so I'm pretty happy with it.

Thanks for all your replys.

Originally Posted by Llquim

The Dec #s were with taking fish oil....then I stopped in Jan to see how the Gemfibrozil would do by itself. So, all in all, not too bad. I think going back on the fish oil though would help with get the HDL level a little higher.

.

You may want to consider taking more Omega 3 capsules per day if you want better results. My husband takes four pharma grade in the morning and four before going to bed. Also a friend of mine is on Gemfibrozil and experiencing an itching problem so do watch for side effects. Otherwise, good luck.

Jane

Llquim,
I am so glad you got such an excellent response from the gemfibrozil.

Now you need to boost your HDL somewhat.
Why not try taking up to 1000 mg. of niacin in any form that you can tolerate. Even a slow acting formulation at 500 mg/day is likely to give you a nice boost.
Two drinks a day will work wonders also.

Originally Posted by janeslk

You may want to consider taking more Omega 3 capsules per day if you want better results. My husband takes four pharma grade in the morning and four before going to bed. Also a friend of mine is on Gemfibrozil and experiencing an itching problem so do watch for side effects. Otherwise, good luck.

Jane

Any particular brand of the Omega 3. No itching with it so far!

Originally Posted by Lenin

Llquim,
I am so glad you got such an excellent response from the gemfibrozil.

Now you need to boost your HDL somewhat.
Why not try taking up to 1000 mg. of niacin in any form that you can tolerate. Even a slow acting formulation at 500 mg/day is likely to give you a nice boost.
Two drinks a day will work wonders also.

Ok, I will try the slow release. I know the regular gave me bad headaches several years ago.

Wouldn't the drinks up the try's?

Two drinks a day will up your tri's a little but if you can also up the HDL's the benefit to risk ratio is high. People who have high triglycerides from drinking are those who have FAR more than 2 drinks a day.

Give it a try for a month or more and have a blood test.

Originally Posted by Llquim

Any particular brand of the Omega 3. No itching with it so far!

My husband takes ResQ 1250, which is rather expensive so we buy it in quantity from a supplement website, not the official website. It is comparable to the Omicor(?) prescription Omega 3 capsules. I take TheraTears, which is supposed to be good for contact lens wearers, but happens to have flaxseed oil as well as vitamin E and Omega 3. I don't have high cholesterol.

Jane