Hypercholesterolemia is a condition characterized by high cholesterol accumulation in the body and is very common with more than 3 million cases per year in the US. It doesn’t cause any symptoms but may eventually lead to heart attack, peripheral artery disease, or stroke due to atherosclerosis. Hypercholesterolemia could be caused by diets high in saturated fats, lack of exercise and physical activity, stress and the hormone cortisol which can increase LDL, genetics, other medical conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity or overweight and smoking.
There are 2 types of cholesterol. HDL (high-density lipoprotein) which is known as your good cholesterol and LDL (low-density lipoprotein) which is known as your bad cholesterol. Triglycerides are another type of fat in your blood. When you eat more calories than your body can use, it turns the extra calories into triglycerides and stores them as fat. If you have high cholesterol, your body may store the extra cholesterol in your arteries which is known as plaque. Over time, plaque can become hard and make your arteries narrow. Large deposits of plaque can completely block your artery and cholesterol plaques can also break apart causing blood clots which can lead to heart attacks or stroke. Many people don’t discover that they have high cholesterol until they suffer one of these life-threatening events or through routine check-ups that include blood tests.
Changes in diet, lifestyle, and exercising are primary recommended treatment methods. Eating fewer foods with saturated fats such as red meat and most dairy products and incorporating lean meats, low fat dairy items and foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids like salmon, herring, walnuts, and almonds can help lower your cholesterol. However, medications may also be prescribed in cases of very high cholesterol levels. Several types of medications are used to treat high cholesterol levels.
A very popular treatment is the use of statins. Statins block an enzyme in your body called HMG-CoA reductase which slows down your body’s production of cholesterol. In blocking this enzyme, statins also block the production of CoQ10 which is your natural source of energy and a powerful antioxidant. Not surprisingly, the side effects commonly associated with statin drugs are nearly identical to the symptoms of CoQ10 deficiency. These side effects include muscle pain and weakness, headaches, difficult sleeping, fatigue, memory loss and confusion, increased risk of heart failure and GI disturbances.
Newer research now linked high cholesterol levels and cardiovascular disease to chronic inflammation. With that said and the fact that people are looking at functional medicine and alternative options, Bergamot has become an alternative option in the treatment of high cholesterol.
Bergamot is a citrus plant that grows almost exclusively in the narrow coastal Calabria region in southern Italy. This is in what is called the “Blue Zone”. The Blue Zone is an area where people live longer healthier lives. It was found that this population drinks bergamot juice like we drink orange juice on a regular basis. Bergamot supports healthy cholesterol levels and optimizes cardiovascular wellness due to its high concentration of cardio-protective polyphenolic flavonoids. Research has shown that Bergamot helps maintain healthy total cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) while lowering low density lipoprotein (LDL) and triglycerides. Bergamot’s health benefits derive from its unique profile of phenolic compounds such as neoeriocitrin, neohesperidin, naringin, rutin, neodesmin, rhoifolin and poncirin. Bergamot is also rich in brutieridine and melitidine which have a unique ability to dampen HMG-CoA reductase.
The difference between statins cholesterol lowering capabilities and Bergamots is that statins close the door completely on the enzyme HMG-CoA reductase where Bergamot leaves the door open or dampens HMG-CoA reductase. By only dampening this enzyme, it allows for the reduction of cholesterol production without affecting the body’s normal production of CoQ10 and other hormones like vitamin D, estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, and cortisol. By preserving your CoQ10 and other hormone levels, you eliminate many of the side effects caused by statin medications.
In several placebo-controlled clinical trials,1000mg of Bergamot helped maintain healthy levels of all the blood lipid markers (HDL, LDL, total cholesterol, and triglycerides) and outperformed the group receiving the traditional statin therapy. In another placebo-controlled clinical trial comparing 1000mg Bergamot BPF to 10mg Rosuvastatin, Bergamot BPF had identical effects on lowering total cholesterol and LDL and elevating HDL cholesterol. However, Bergamot BPF outperformed Rosuvastatin in lowering triglycerides. When Rosuvastatin was increased to 20mg and compared to adding 1000mg of Bergamot BPF to 10mg Rosuvastatin, the results were again the same. The conclusion of these studies is that Bergamot BPF lowers total cholesterol and LDL and increases HDL the same as a statin but lowers triglycerides substantially more than a statin while eliminating many of the side effects caused by statin medications.
To learn more about the many benefits of Bergamot BPF as well as other high-quality nutraceuticals visit Vitopia Care at www.vitopiacare.com. Our family cares for your family.
By: Rick Conner, RPh