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Alcoholism-- What Should I Know About It?
What is alcoholism?
Alcoholism is a disease that affects the part of the brain that
controls your feelings, the way you make decisions, and the way
you act. People with alcoholism cannot control how much they
drink. What causes alcoholism?...
Aloe Vera - Is It Just A Laxative (Part I)?
Herbs have been used as medicines for thousands of years. Till
recently people relied on traditional systems of medicine that
were based on observational analysis, It is only now that
scientific methods have evolved enough to allow...
Chiropractic Care: A Benefit to the Well Individual?
We don't often think of the chiropractor until some part of our
body isn't functioning as it should, most often our back. But
what about chiropractic care for the well individual? Is it a
benefit to the well person, to visit a chiropractor when...
How To Beat Depression
How To Beat Depression
By ElmerFizz
http://www.elmerfizz.com
Depression can come on us at any time of the year. Sometimes,
holidays are the worst times for those that feel this
down-in-the-dumps fear and worry and things just seem...
Is mangosteen the answer for your disease/illness? It could very well be!
The Mangosteen is tangerine-sized and is deep purple in color on the outside, with a bright white pulp in the inside. Prized because of its excellent flavor, in Asia it is called the "Queen of Fruits," and, in the French Caribbean, the "Food of the...
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Policosinol and Cholesterol Reduction
The word cholesterol has become synonymous with poor health. Indeed, one does not typically hear the word used, or see it printed, unless it points to yet another distressing fact -- that high cholesterol is the number one factor for coronary heart disease, and the number one cause of heart attacks[i].
However, cholesterol is, in itself, not a negative thing. On the contrary, cholesterol plays a vital role in forming cell membranes, regulating hormones, insulating nerves, and more. The problem with cholesterol therefore lays not in cholesterol itself, but the amount of cholesterol present in the bloodstream. For most Americans who talk and read about this subject, the scenario almost always involves too much cholesterol, or the condition known as hypercholesterolemia.
When there is too much cholesterol in the blood, it cannot easily dissolve, and thus cannot effectively be transported to cells by the carrier called low-density lipoprotein (LDL). This can create a build-up of LDL cholesterol (a.k.a. “bad cholesterol”), and start to interfere with arteries that transport blood to the heart and brain. Both a stroke and a heart attack are the most severe manifestations of LDL cholesterol build-up, and the main reason why so many people are seeking ways to reduce the LDL build-up in their bloodstream[ii].
However, reducing cholesterol has been fraught with challenges. Though reducing or eliminating certain foods from diet is a necessary first step for most individuals, some who suffer from hypercholesterolemia require medical interventions to immediately begin lowering their risk of heart attack or stroke. As such, dozens of cholesterol-lowering statin drugs are currently on the market, and while some people have experienced relief due to their use, there are side effects that cause concern, including nausea, diarrhea, muscle tenderness, and increased liver enzymes[iii]. The out-of-pocket costs of these statin drugs can also be cost prohibitive for those not covered by a comprehensive drug plan.
However, a natural product called policosinol is generating an unusual amount of attention – both positive and negative – from the medical community in light of its purported cholesterol lowering capacity. Derived from the wax of sugarcanes and honeybees, policosinol is said by some to reduce cholesterol, offer no known side effects, be safe in high doses, increase blood flow, reduce platelet clumps, and prevent atherosclerosis (plaque buildup on the artery walls)[iv].
Studies have been conducted on policosinol efficacy, and there is some empirical research evidence that supports it as a high LDL cholesterol remedy. A 2002 study by researchers at the University of Bonn reviewed 60 clinical trials involving 3000 patients, and concluded with cautious optimism that policosinol is a promising alternative to cholesterol lowering stain drugs, and thus warrants further study[v].
However, those poised to buy policosinol and lower their cholesterol should approach with caution; and this is the message voiced by those who are less than enthusiastic about the policosinol’s emergence as something of a wonder cure.
Though a natural remedy and thus far not causing the side effects associated with statin drugs, those
skeptical about policosinol quickly point out that it is not an FDA approved drug. As such, it has not been subjected to the rigorous testing that comes with approving a new drug, including supervised preclinical trials and standardized testing in successively larger population of people. The fact that the FDA approves 1 out of 5000, or .0002 of the applications that it receives for new drug approval, is an indication of how highly valued – and rare – this approval is.
However, this instigates another debate – whether the FDA approval process is the most appropriate way to accept drugs into drug plans, and whether doctors should be permitted to prescribe non-FDA-approved drugs without undue concerns for malpractice lawsuits. Indeed, an MD may have personally benefited from a natural remedy like policosinol, but to prescribe that to a patient requires more support than personal preference, or even personal testimony.
And it is the intersection of these two separate debates -- whether policosinol works or not, and whether the FDA approval process is fair or not – that the situation, and verdict on policosinol, currently lies. This debate is frustrating to all sides; including patients themselves, who simply want a real solution.
However, despite these frustrations, the fact that efforts are being undertaken to develop – or verify – a remedy that is safe, complete, and free of side-effects – is a step in the right direction. Additional research on policosinol will further clarify whether that step should be towards FDA approval, or towards a warning label.
ABOUT PROTICA
Founded in 2001, Protica, Inc. is a nutritional research firm with offices in Lafayette Hill and Conshohocken, Pennsylvania. Protica manufactures capsulized foods, including Profect, a compact, hypoallergenic, ready-to-drink protein beverage containing zero carbohydrates and zero fat. Information on Protica is available at http://www.protica.com
You can also learn about Profect at http://www.profect.com
Copyright - Protica Research - http://www.protica.com
REFERENCES
[i] Source: “Heart Mender”. CNN.Com.
http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2001/americasbest/science.medicine/pro.pridker.html
[ii] Source: “Cholesterol”. American Heart Association.
http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4488
[iii] Source: “Statin Medications: What are the Side Effects?”. Mayoclinic.com
http://www.mayoclinic.com/invoke.cfm?id=AN00587
[iv] Source: “Policosinol ”. Wholehealthmd.com.
http://www.wholehealthmd.com/refshelf/substances_view/1,1525,10127,00.html
[v] Source: “Policosinol : clinical pharmacology and therapeutic significance of a new lipid-lowering agent”. Gouni-Berthold I, Berthold HK. Am Heart J. 2002 Feb;143(2):356-65.
About the Author
ABOUT PROTICA
Founded in 2001, Protica, Inc. is a nutritional research firm with offices in Lafayette Hill and Conshohocken, Pennsylvania. Protica manufactures capsulized foods, including Profect, a compact, hypoallergenic, ready-to-drink protein beverage containing zero carbohydrates and zero fat. Information on Protica is available at http://www.protica.com
You can also learn about Profect at http://www.profect.com
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