Dr. Sinatra, a cardiologist, says: “Statin Drugs Will Not Reduce Lp(a). Lipoprotein(a), or Lp(a), is a component of LDL or “bad” cholesterol.” One of his recommendations is Policosanol for an alternative approach in attacking Lp(a)…
Watch the video to learn about Lp(a).
Dr. Sinatra says: “While drugs prescribed to help you attain and maintain healthy cholesterol can reduce LDL, they can’t alter Lp(a). If you find that Lp(a) runs in your family, you must attack it with an alternative approach.” One of his recommendations is Policosanol.
Click here to OPEN/CLOSE --- Dr. Sinatra's Video Content : What is cholesterol fractionation? / Lp(a) Dr. Sinatra: This is a question from a newsletter subscriber. What is cholesterol fractionation? Well, you know, we all hear about cholesterol on TV. We hear about the bad cholesterol, the good cholesterol, but that’s a dinosaur. Folks, what you need to focus on, if your cholesterol is elevated, we have to know what type it is, so this is where cholesterol fractionation comes in. For example, if you have LDL and it’s oxidized, we want to know how toxic that LDL is. We want to know if it’s small particle, if it’s fluffy, or if it’s a combination of both, so we call it A size, B size, or AB. AB is a combination of a fluffy particle and also a small particle. The problem is the more small particles you have, the more dense those particles, the more inflammatory cholesterol is. The more inflammatory cholesterol is, the more it can cause complications or inflammation in your blood vessels. Now, there’s also the component of cholesterol called Lp(a). This is the most inflammatory and thrombotic, and what I mean by thrombotic, it causes clots. So, if you have high Lp(a), that’s a problem; that’s the real cholesterol story. So, high Lp(a) is something we have to worry about. Now is all HDL protective? Not really. You can have dysfunctional HDL. When we fractionate cholesterol, we look at HDL subtypes. We call it HDL-2 and HDL-3. We also look at triglycerides. For example, we’ll fractionate the triglycerides into VLDL. The higher the VLDL you have, very low density lipoprotein, the more inflammatory it is. So, if you go to your doctor and you get an HDL and a LDL and a total cholesterol and triglycerides, that’s a start, but if you really want to look at your cholesterol picture, you must fractionate it. When you fractionate it, you can take steps to neutralize the bad portions and then you can really do something about it and that’s what you want to do. After reading Joy Bauer’s comments on Policosanol — a cholesterol-lowering supplement (FAQ), read further below for more of Dr. Sinatra’s recommendation if Lp(a) runs in your family… There are so many reports about cholesterol-lowering supplements, especially policosanol. How can I tell what is valuable and what isn’t? You’re right — it seems that every time you open a magazine there’s a story about another miracle supplement. Read what Joy Bauer says: Policosanol is a sugar cane extract that has been touted as a way to reduce cholesterol. But a rigorous 2006 study showed that even 80 milligrams of high-quality policosanol per day didn’t have any effect on cholesterol. As I write, there is a preliminary information that says that cinnamon and cloves (in a supplement form only, not from food) may help lower cholesterol. This is potentially good news, but it is too early to recommend seeking out cinnamon supplements. You don’t want to be a guinea pig, one of the first to test out some new treatment — there may be undercovered side effects or you may waste money on a worthless treatment. On the other hand, you also don’t want to miss out on a treatment that the medical community has embraced. My advice is to read everything, and if you see something interesting, make a copy and take it to your doctor. It can’t hurt to ask a professional, and most doctors are happy when their patients are proactive about improving their health. Source: Joy Bauer, Food Cures, p.131 According to Dr. Sinatra: Drugs typically prescribed for reducing cholesterol have no impact on Lp(a) levels. In fact, a study involving these drugs showed an increase in Lp(a) levels! And therein lies the dilemma. While drugs prescribed to help you attain healthy cholesterol can reduce LDL, they can’t alter Lp(a). If you find that Lp(a) runs in your family, you must attack it with an alternative approach. Here’s what I recommend:
FAQ Cholesterol-Lowering Supplement: Policosanol’s Effect
The following Cholesterol FAQ (Frequently Asked Question) is seen in Joy Bauer’s Food Cures book.
Policosanol’s Effect to Reduce Cholesterol
Cinnamon and Cloves May Lower Cholesterol – New Information
Dr. Sinatra: Statin Drugs Will Not Reduce Lp(a)