Cardiovascular Health
A healthy cardiovascular system is essential for maintaining well-being
and vitality. But, this system’s health is often threatened by the
formidable foes
cholesterol and triglycerides, which contribute to coronary heart
disease (CHD). CHD,
which can lead to heart attack, is the most common heart disease in the
United States and
is often simply called heart disease. Heart disease occurs when the
arteries that
supply the heart with blood become hardened by calcification and
narrowed by a buildup of
excess cholesterol and fat (plaque). When a clot forms over the plaque,
blood flow through
the artery becomes blocked causing a heart attack. According to the
Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention, heart disease is the leading cause of
death in the
United States and is a major cause of disability. Almost 700,000 people
die of heart disease
in the U.S. each year (about 29% of all U.S. deaths).
Fortunately, the threat of heart disease can be reduced or prevented by
taking steps to decrease risk factors such as smoking, high blood
pressure, high
cholesterol, obesity, physical inactivity and diabetes. Lifestyle
modification can address
most of these risk factors. Additionally, certain nutritional
ingredients can aid in
supporting optimal cardiovascular system health. Red yeast rice,
phytosterols, vitamin K
and flavonoids, particularly polymethoxylated flavones (PMFs), are
known to impart
heart healthy benefits.
High blood cholesterol is one of the major risk factors for
cardiovascular disease. Genetic predisposition accounts for high
cholesterol levels in some
individuals, but for the majority, unhealthy lifestyle and eating
habits are key risk
factors. Reducing LDL (bad) cholesterol and elevating HDL (good)
cholesterol are positive
moves toward cardiovascular health.
A diet high in plant-based foods is associated with cardiovascular
benefits. These benefits may be partly due to plant sterols, or
phytosterols.
Phytosterols are essential components of plant cell membranes and are
found abundantly in wheat
germ, wheat bran, corn oil, peanuts, macadamia nuts, canola oil and
olive oil.
Structurally phytosterols resemble cholesterol. Once ingested, they
compete with
cholesterol during the absorption process, resulting in an inhibition
of cholesterol
absorption and a decrease of LDL levels in the body. Numerous research
studies have
documented the efficacy and safety of phytosterols in lowering
cholesterol.1-2 The
health benefits of phytosterols are so encouraging that the FDA
approved a health claim
for their role in the prevention of heart disease. Products high in
vegetarian
ingredients are a good source of plant sterols. Phytosterol is an
ingredient in our
Cholester-Reg
II.
Flavonoids are also natural compounds found in a wide variety of fruits
and vegetables. Over 4,000 different flavonoids have been identified,
many of which are
known to impart a variety of health benefits. A subset of flavonoids
known as
polymethoxylated flavones (PMFs), found in a variety of citrus fruits,
possess especially
beneficial properties. The most common citrus PMFs, tangeretin and
nobiletin, are found in the
peels and juice of tangerines and oranges.
A joint study by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and KGK Synergize,
a Canadian nutraceutical company, has shown that adding PMFs to the
diet is
effective reduces LDL as well as total cholesterol and triglycerides.3
These actions are
attributed to an inhibition of the LDL structural protein,
apolipoprotein B, in liver cells.3
Apolipoprotein B is required for the formation of LDL cholesterol. It
also facilitates the transport
and deposition of cholesterol in the arteries. Inhibition of
apolipoprotein B is
therefore associated with reduced LDL levels and a decrease in arterial
plaque formation.
Red yeast rice, a product of rice fermented with Monascus purpureus
yeast, has long been used in China as both a food and medicinal
substance. Recently, it
was discovered that red yeast rice contains substances that are similar
to
prescription medications that lower cholesterol. It inhibits a body
enzyme called HMG-CoA reductase,
an essential enzyme involved in hepatic cholesterol synthesis.4
In a 12-week,
controlled study at the Center for Human Nutrition, UCLA School of
Medicine, red yeast rice was
found to significantly reduce total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and
triglycerides compared with placebo, while HDL cholesterol levels
remained unchanged.4 Taking red
yeast rice may lower the risk of heart disease by helping to manage
cholesterol
levels. NSP offers a Red
Yeast Rice product formulated to support a healthy circulatory
system.
References
1. Becker M, Staab D, Von Bergmann K. Treatment of severe familial
hypercholesterolemia in childhood with sitosterol and sitostanol. J
Pediatr 1993 Feb;122(2):292-6
2. Pelletier X, Belbraouet S, Mirabel D, Mordret F, Perrin JL, Pages X,
Debry G. A diet moderately enriched in phytosterols lowers plasma
cholesterol concentrations in normocholesterolemic humans. Ann Nutr
Metab 1995;39(5):291-5
3. Kurowska EM, Manthey JA. Hypolipidemic effects and absorption of
citrus polymethoxylated flavones in hamsters with diet-induced
hypercholesterolemia. J Agric Food Chem. 52, 10:2879-86, 2004.
4. Heber D, Yip I, Ashley JM, Elashoff DA, Elashoff RM, Go VL.
Cholesterol-lowering effects of a proprietary Chinese red-yeast-rice
dietary supplement. Am J Clin Nutr. 1999 Feb;69(2):231-6.
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