Body and Being
NATURAL SOLUTIONS FOR HEALTH AND BODY CARE
Monthly articles are supplied by guest writers who explore natural solutions to health and well-being issues.
Sytrinol™ A breakthrough in cholesterol management
by Donald J. Brown, N.D.
(October 2005) — Cardiovascular disease is the number one cause of death in America, and one of its major risk factors is high blood cholesterol. According to the American Heart Association, about 20 percent of Americans have high blood cholesterol and 80 percent of people with high cholesterol do not have it under control.1 Lowering blood cholesterol is an advised strategy to help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance needed for certain body functions, but too much cholesterol is unhealthy. Triglycerides are another type of fat measured in the blood. Both are transported in the bloodstream on molecules called lipoproteins — either low-density lipoproteins (LDL) or high-density lipoproteins (HDL) in the case of cholesterol and very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) in the case of triglycerides.
High LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels are associated with an increased risk of atherosclerosis and heart disease. That’s why LDL is called often the “bad” cholesterol. Conversely, high levels HDL cholesterol (the “good” cholesterol) help lower the risk of cardiovascular diseases.
Because up to 80 percent of the body’s cholesterol is produced by the liver, many people find that a healthy diet and exercise are not enough to keep levels in a healthy range. This has led to a huge increase in prescriptions for drugs known as statins (e.g. HMG-CoA-reductase inhibitors). Statins are effective at lowering total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol levels. But they also have negative side effects such as potential muscle pain and weakness and liver damage.2, 3 Statins also decrease levels of coenzyme Q10 in the body — a crucial nutrient for the heart muscle.4
Sytrinol™ is a patented combination of polymethoxylated flavones (PMFs) from dried citrus fruits/peels and tocotrienols (a form of vitamin E). The two PMFs in Sytrinol are tangeretin and nobiletin, which help lower LDL cholesterol by inhibiting the creation of its building blocks: apolipoprotein B and triglycerides.5, 6, 7
Three clinical studies find that taking 300 mg per day of Sytrinol safely and effectively reduces total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and triglycerides in persons with moderately elevated levels.8 In the largest study, researchers observed decreases in total cholesterol (–30 percent), LDL-cholesterol (–27 percent) and triglcycerides (–34 percent) among patients taking Sytrinol compared to placebo for 12 weeks. No side effects were reported with Sytrinol.9
Using Sytrinol
Persons choosing Sytrinol should take a supplement providing 150 mg of the extract two times per day. Softgels are the best delivery form of Sytrinol, yielding up to 3-times more tangeretin and nobiletin into the bloodstream than capsules.10
Sytrinol should not be used by pregnant women, nursing mothers or women trying to conceive. It’s important to note that reduction in cholesterol during pregnancy can increase risk of birth defects. There are no known drug interactions with Sytrinol. But if you are taking a statin drug to lower cholesterol, consult with your prescribing doctor before starting Sytrinol.
About the Author
Donald J. Brown, N.D. is a naturopathic physician. He is author of Herbal Prescriptions for Health & Healing, as well as coauthor of The Natural Pharmacy, Second Edition and the A to Z Guide to Drug-Herb-Vitamin Interactions.
References
1. Available at: www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=183 Accessed June 28, 2005.
2. Smogorzewski M. The myopathy of statins. J Ren Nutr 2005;15:87-93.
3. Silver M, Langsjoen P, Szabo S, et al. Effect of atorva-statin on left ventricular diastolic function and ability of coenzyme Q10 to reverse that dysfunction. Am J Cardiol 2004;94:1306-10.
4. Nawarskas JJ. HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors and coenzyme Q10. Cardiol Rev 2005;13:76-9.
5. Jamil H, Gordon DA, Eustice DC, et al. An inhibitor of the microsomal triglyceride transfer protein inhibits apoB secretion from HepG2 cells. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 1996;93:11991-5.
6. Gordon DA. Recent advances in elucidating the role of the microsomal triglyceride transfer protein in apolipo-protein B lipoprotein assembly. Curr Opinion Lipidol 1997;8:131-7.
7. Kurowska EM, Matnhey JA, Casachi A, Theriault AG. Modulation of HepG2 cell net apolipoprotein B secretion by citrus polymthoxyflavone, tangeretin. Lipids 2004;39:143-51.
8. Theriault A, Chao JT, Wang Q, et al. Tocotrienol: a review of its therapeutic potential. Clin Biochem 1999;32:309-19.
9. Kurowska EM, Laidlaw M, Barber J, et al. SytrinolTM, a novel cholesterol-lowering supplement. Canadian Federation of Biological Sciences Annual Meeting, Guelph, Ontario, Canada, June 21-25, 2005.
10. Crowley DC, Kurowska EM, Chatrvedi P, Guthrie N. The pharmacokinetics of three SytrinolTM formulations in healthy human adults. May 20, 2005. Unpublished data provided by KGK Synergize, London, Ontario, Canada.
This information is intended for educational purposes only. It is not provided in order to diagnose, cure, mitigate or prevent any disease, illness or injury. Those individuals suffering from any disease, illness or injury should consult with their healthcare provider.
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