Cholesterol and alternatives to statins

Hi there!

Is your GP trying to persuade you to take statins for cholesterol? Mine tried...I refused. I have read so much about the side affects and possibility of heart attacks and stroke that I daren't touch them. My GP has given me 3 months to lower my cholesterol by other means before being retested and reviewing the situation.

I have done much research. Statins cause muscle degredation by reducing the body's ability to make a co-enzyme in the liver called Q10. A lack of Q10 is the cause of muscle loss, fatigue, low energy and muscular aches and pains. It can affect the heart as this is one big muscle. It is the lack of Q10 rather than the statins themselves which cause this deadly side affect. From the age of 40 your body becomes less able to produce co-enzyme Q10 naturally so adding statins just accellerates the reduction in its production.

Additionally, Q10 may also protect against blood clots, lower blood pressure, lessen symptoms of Raynaud's disease and relieve chest pain. It is thought to prolong life in those with breast or prostate cancer. The list goes on! It is also helpful in stabilising bood sugar levels in us diabetics and I must admit that since taking a co-enzyme Q10 supplement I have noticed the latter improving.

So, I have found that avocados, nuts, seeds, soya, turmeric and oats are especially good at lowering cholesterol. In addition to these foods, I also take supplements of garlic, omega-3 and artichoke which are all renowned for lowering cholesterol.

anna29 said:

Hi julie and swimmer.
Have read your posts and am wondering ...
Where do you get the Q10 supplements from? How much do they cost?
I was on simvastatin till suffered from the awful side effects its known for!
Refused to continue taking it as it was making me worse than any improvement, plus
my cholestrol levels have crept up despite being on it... :thumbdown:
Have read both of your posts with great interest and wish to consider other options
safer and better .
All of my family parents,brother,uncle,aunt are on statins.
Only my father is on Atorvastatin, rest are on simvastatin.
Anna.

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Hi Anna

I got my Q10 from Holland & Barrett on sale at £5.99 though it depends on the strength you buy. They have a buy one, get one for a penny offer on at the moment but full price is about £15 I think...not sure. Either way, it's worth every penny! My brother is type 1 and takes it too.

Good luck
Juliette x

anna29 said:

Ta ...
Guess where I am going this week then :thumbup:
What strength would be suitable ?
.

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Hello again Anna

Q10 is not an alternative to statins as it doesn't lower cholesterol. It needs to be used alongside them or a cholesterol lowering diet. It merely prevents statins from depleting your natural levels of this co-enzyme which are needed for a lot of chemical processes in your body. Q10 prevents side affects of statins such as muscle degredation, pains and aches. I take 2x 30mg a day. This is quite a low dose, but I wanted to see the affect of this first before increasing it. It seems to do the job for me as I feel more energetic and my sugar levels are a little lower than they used to be.

For cholesterol lowering, I recommend the foods and supplements listed in my earlier email..artichoke supplement and avocado pears being particularly beneficial. I also take benecol dairy free drink as it is soya based. Soya lowers cholesterol and this has the added benefit of containing fewer carbs than the fat free benecol as it is lactose free.

Good luck
Juliette. x

carty said:

I take a plant sterol called Lestrin boots have it in its 3 for 2 range .I refused statins and reduced my chol from 6.9 to 5.4 along with my reduced carb diet and more exercise
CAROL

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Hello

Thanks for your reply. The more advice, the better. We have to work together to stay healthy the best way we can. I shall be revisiting Boots for the Lestrin. I got the artichoke extract from there on the 3 for 2 offer.

Regards
Juliette x

suejat said:

hello all,
I am new to this forum, and have been reading this post with great interest. Like most of you here, I would not touch statins with a barge pole. If cholesterol readings are too high to get down naturally, I suppose they would have to be used, but personally I think all other alternatives should be tried first, Just my opinion.

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Hey Suejat

You are a kindred spirit. I haven't used marg or spreads for years...long before diagnosis. I think my cholesterol readings are of genetic source as I eat no saturated fats, am on a low fat/low-carb diet and never really did eat stuff like biscuits and crisps. The only indulgence I used to have was a Danish pastry or two after doing the weekly shop. Now I rarely go near such things. Don't even get me started on fried food! Never eat it...never would. Grill and steam, that's what I do. Oh, there's no justice in the world! My reward for low BG is high cholesterol...whoopee!

Anyway, I'm certainly with you on the 'try all other alternatives first' approach to statins. Fingers crossed it works. I pray you'll never have this dilema.
Regards
Juliette x

noblehead said:

Julietterporter said:

I think my cholesterol readings are of genetic source

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Could be Familial Hypercholesterolaemia which is inherited form of high cholesterol, take a read of the following from Netdoctor:

http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/diseases/fac ... laemia.htm

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You little saint!

Thanks for this web link. I've just read the web page and this could be what's causing my problem as both parents and my brother have high cholesterol. I have also had intermittent thyroid problems, though it seems to have cured itself. My only confusion is that my cholesterol levels have been normal in the past. It's only since being diabetic that it's shot up (diagnosed June 2011). I was on orlistat for weight loss and this works similarly to a statin. Once I came off this, my cholesterol shot up despite being normal beforehand when I weighed over 19 stone. Now I'm just 10 stone. I think I'll raise your suggestion with my GP and see what he says. Thank you so much.
Juliette. x

tisme said:

I also refused to take statins ....I met a herbalist in a health food store who told me about fenugreek tablets taken 20 minutes before a meal leaves a jelly like substance which prevents the absorption of sugar and fats .

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Hey there you!

Fenugreek sounds really interesting. Did this jelly form in the gut or the mouth? Did it cause any horrible stomach/bowel upsets? Did you have any cholesterol tests which proved it was successful?

Juliette x