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Heart Disease (Expert Forum)
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This forum is for questions and support regarding heart issues such as: Angina, Angioplasty, Arrhythmia, Bypass Surgery, Cardiomyopathy, Coronary Artery Disease, Defibrillator, Heart Attack, Heart Disease, High Blood Pressure, Mitral Valve Prolapse, Pacemaker, PAD, Stenosis, Stress Tests.
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by Bob-VeVerka, Nov 03, 1998 12:00AM
What is the value of the following to reduce cholestrol?
1. grape seed extract,
2. niacin/folic acid (Kowalski - 8 Week Cholestrol Cure), and
3. vitamin E,C,Beta Carotene (Oxidation of free radicals - Ornish)?
Had bypass, and trying to reduce cholestrol from 203 (115LDL) without medication. Beside diet and exercise, would you comment on the effectiveness and value of each and suggested supplements and recommended dosage if you think they have any value.
Doctor's Answer
by CCF Cardio MD - MTR, Nov 03, 1998 12:00AM
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Dear Bob, thank you for your question. Grape seed extract has no benefit. Niacin is known to be an excellent agent to reduce cholesterol, but most people can't tolerate the severe flushing that usually follows each dose of niacin. This side effect can be reduced by taking aspirin with each dose and by very slowly increasing the dose from an initial low dose. However, niacin should only be used if your physician gives his approval. Vitamin E,C, and beta-carotene are anti-oxidants that scavenge free radicals. These agents do not reduce cholesterol but they may favorably influence atherosclerotic plaques. The bottom line is that niacin will help if you can tolerate it, antioxidants may help but won't reduce cholesterol, and grape seed extract is useless. As I previously wrote, the best way to lower your cholesterol is to eat a low-fat, low-cholesterol diet and to engage in moderate intensity aerobic exercise daily. Good luck!
I hope you find this information useful. Information provided in the heart forum is for general purposes only. Only your physician can provide specific diagnoses and therapies. Please feel free to write back with additional questions.
If you would like to make an appointment at the Cleveland Clinic Heart Center, please call 1-800-CCF-CARE or inquire online by using the Heart Center website at www.ccf.org/heartcenter. The Heart Center website contains a directory of the cardiology staff that can be used to select the physician best suited to address your cardiac problem.
