Everyday nutrients improve lipid profiles

 

Calcium and vitamin D

Doctors wanted to see if increasing vitamin D levels would improve lipids in postmenopausal women. Lipids are circulating blood fats—triglycerides and cholesterol. In the study, 300 White, 200 African-American, and 100 Hispanic postmenopausal women took a placebo or 1,000 mg of calcium plus 400 IU of vitamin D per day.

After three years, compared to placebo, women who took calcium with vitamin D had 38 percent higher circulating levels of vitamin D and were twice as likely to have sufficient levels of vitamin D.

Those who took calcium with vitamin D saw an average 4.46 mg/dL decrease in LDL, the “bad” cholesterol. As vitamin D levels rose, levels of HDL, the “good” cholesterol, were higher, and LDL and triglycerides levels were lower. Doctors said these findings suggest a link between lower levels of LDL cholesterol and higher levels of vitamin D.

 

Pantethine – vitamin B5

High levels of LDL cholesterol raise chances for heart problems, according to doctors. In this study, 32 people eligible for statin therapy to treat high LDL cholesterol levels took pantethine or a placebo. The dose was 600 mg of pantethine per day for the first eight weeks followed by 900 mg per day through 16 weeks.

Compared to placebo, those taking pantethine saw LDL cholesterol levels decline by 11 percent, and total cholesterol decline by 6 percent, with benefits evident at both eight and 16 weeks.

Discussing their findings, doctors suggested pantethine may provide these health benefits by reducing enzymes that metabolize cholesterol, may improve blood flow and digestion, or may promote survival and growth of beneficial probiotic strains in the gut. Pantethine reduces several factors in those with low to moderate chances of heart disease, and may be a useful complementary therapy for those eligible for statin therapy, doctors concluded.