Lowering LDL and raising HDL

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- AI thinks that you just flat makes things up.

Also, gathering information from multiple sources is usually a good strategy.

AI isn't a source. If you actually check all its sources you'll find some of them don't even exist as it tends to hallucinate them.

 

[hexagonal]

AI isn't a source. If you actually check all its sources you'll find some of them don't even exist as it tends to hallucinate them.

Yep. Or misinterpret them.

It's not necessarily a bad first pass, but you need to make it cite it's sources and verify that they agree with what it is claiming to say.

 

[Liber_Pater]

Red yeast rice is effectively a statin - it's the same active ingredient ( monacolin K ) as in some statins. Except now you're taking something that isn't regulated by the FDA. At that point, I'd probably just take a statin.

Nattokinase has some mixed study results on improving LDL/HDL levels. If it's beneficial, it looks like it's better at higher doses (8000 or so IU). Similarly, some interesting results in reversing atherosclerosis at these higher levels as well. Talk to your doctor if you're on blood thinners or have health risks around blood thinning.

Agree Hex. My doctor wouldn't prescribe me a statin even with ldl in the 130s so I took red yeast rice. Lowered my ldl to 70ish. Even then she said "that's great!" I tried to explain, not regulated, no idea of active ingredient contents, etc. but to no avail. Had to pay out of pocket for a CAC scan (came out with a positive score, bottom 20% for my age) for her to prescribe 10mg rosuvastatin. Took my ldl to around 50. I have since jumped on 10 mg ezetimibe and it's down to an avg of 35 now. Ezetimibe is low cost and great for folks who don't like (or simply can't take) statins. Have found a new doctor since then. All of this is just part of living healthier (cardio 5x/wk, much better diet, strength training 4x/wk, etc.).

 

[hexagonal]

Agree Hex. My doctor wouldn't prescribe me a statin even with ldl in the 130s so I took red yeast rice. Lowered my ldl to 70ish. Even then she said "that's great!" I tried to explain, not regulated, no idea of active ingredient contents, etc. but to no avail. Had to pay out of pocket for a CAC scan (came out with a positive score, bottom 20% for my age) for her to prescribe 10mg rosuvastatin. Took my ldl to around 50. I have since jumped on 10 mg ezetimibe and it's down to an avg of 35 now. Ezetimibe is low cost and great for folks who don't like (or simply can't take) statins. Have found a new doctor since then. All of this is just part of living healthier (cardio 5x/wk, much better diet, strength training 4x/wk, etc.).

Glad you were able to get on it and get a doctor willing to work with you. Sucks when they just ignore things that are important like the fact you're taking the same active ingredient in unknown quantities, purities, etc. as actual pharmaceuticals...


I've actually swapped from rosuvastatin to pitavastatin based on some additional research people have linked. It's not as good at stabilizing existing plaque, so not sure if it's a good fit for your situation, but if you are currently at a lower risk it's better at removing smaller plaque buildup vs. stabilizing it in a calcified form. Apparently doctors ignored it for some time due to the patent and expense, but it is now generic, and might be a good option for people depending on their situation.

 

[peptidepower77]

Glad you were able to get on it and get a doctor willing to work with you. Sucks when they just ignore things that are important like the fact you're taking the same active ingredient in unknown quantities, purities, etc. as actual pharmaceuticals...


I've actually swapped from rosuvastatin to pitavastatin based on some additional research people have linked. It's not as good at stabilizing existing plaque, so not sure if it's a good fit for your situation, but if you are currently at a lower risk it's better at removing smaller plaque buildup vs. stabilizing it in a calcified form. Apparently doctors ignored it for some time due to the patent and expense, but it is now generic, and might be a good option for people depending on their situation.

I did this exact change as well. I'm surprised more people aren't on pitavastatin as it's the most metabolically friendly statin of the bunch. My HbA1c went from about 4.9 to 5.3 on rosuvastatin, and I suspect it'll drop back to normal with pitavastatin. The only real downside to it is it's a bit more money, but to me it's worth it.

 

[Liber_Pater]

Glad you were able to get on it and get a doctor willing to work with you. Sucks when they just ignore things that are important like the fact you're taking the same active ingredient in unknown quantities, purities, etc. as actual pharmaceuticals...


I've actually swapped from rosuvastatin to pitavastatin based on some additional research people have linked. It's not as good at stabilizing existing plaque, so not sure if it's a good fit for your situation, but if you are currently at a lower risk it's better at removing smaller plaque buildup vs. stabilizing it in a calcified form. Apparently doctors ignored it for some time due to the patent and expense, but it is now generic, and might be a good option for people depending on their situation.

Thanks for the great info as pitavastatin isn't even on my radar! Will be doing some research for sure.

 

[Liber_Pater]

I did this exact change as well. I'm surprised more people aren't on pitavastatin as it's the most metabolically friendly statin of the bunch. My HbA1c went from about 4.9 to 5.3 on rosuvastatin, and I suspect it'll drop back to normal with pitavastatin. The only real downside to it is it's a bit more money, but to me it's worth it.

Very interesting and good to know!

 

[peptidepower77]

Very interesting and good to know!

Rosuvastatin, also known as Crestor, is known to cause worse blood sugars, increase HbA1C, and can lead to diabetes in some people. I'm honestly surprised it's still the first line treatment, as often people who are already struggling with weight are the ones to go on it. But yah, when I was researching the one that would be the easiest to lose weight on, that one came up. It also is processed differently than Crestor in the body, so it doesn't interact with as many medications in the same way as Crestor, which is a good thing.

 

[hexagonal]

I did this exact change as well. I'm surprised more people aren't on pitavastatin as it's the most metabolically friendly statin of the bunch. My HbA1c went from about 4.9 to 5.3 on rosuvastatin, and I suspect it'll drop back to normal with pitavastatin. The only real downside to it is it's a bit more money, but to me it's worth it.

Doctors in America seem to really not know too much about it, somehow. My PCP didn't even realize it existed before I mentioned it to him the first time, said he'd read up on it. Next time I saw him he told me he was now presenting it as an option for patients where they're catching the hyperlipidemia early.