Cardiovascular disease As of 2007, it is the leading cause of death in the United States,[1][2] England, Canada and Wales,[3] killing one person every 34 seconds in the United States alone.[4]
One of the risk factors that is most frequently targeted in cardiovascular disease is hyperlipidemia, or high cholesterol. High cholesterol levels are closely associated with atherosclerosis. There are many ways to combat high cholesterol. You can modify your diet, increase your exercise level, use dietary supplements, or take prescription medications. Depending on your situation, all of these may be part of your healthy lifestyle. Today I want to look at the prescription component. The most common drug classes are the Statins ( also known as HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors) and the bile acid sequestrants.
Physicians prescribe billions of dollars of statins each year. They are very effective for reducing the bad LDL cholesterol, but this does come at an expense to your body. Mess with mother nature and there will be consequences! Lets take a look at the cholesterol lowering class nutrient depletion chart:
| Drug | Nutrient Depletion | Potential Consequences of Drug Nutrient Depletion |
| Statins:
lovastatin (Mevacor®) simvastatin (Zocor ®) pravastatin (Pravachol®) atovastatin (Lipitor ®) |
Coenzyme Q10
(CoQ10) |
High blood pressure, Congestive Heart Failure (CHF), low energy |
| Bile Acid Sequestrants: Cholestyramine (Questran®)
Colestipol (Colestid®) colesevelam (Welchol®) |
Beta-carotene, calcium, folic acid, iron, magnesium, phosphorous, Vitamin A, Vitamin B12, Vitamin D, Vitamin E, Vitamin K, Zinc | Beta-carotene – gas and bloating, diarrhea or constipation, frequent yeast infections, bad breath
Calcium – Rickets, osteoporosis Folic Acid – abnormal cellular development Iron – anemia, weakness, fatigue, hair loss, brittle nails, greater risk of getting infections Magnesium – muscle cramps, weakness, fatigue, fear, anxiety, depression, and many more Vitamin A – skin cancers, night blindness, dry, scaly, rough skin. Vitamin B12 – fatigue, depression, memory loss, confusion, nausea, loss of apetite Vitamin D – Rickets, reduced calcium assimilation, arthritis pain, increased risk of osteoporosis Vitamin E – Greater free radical activity, increasing risk to conditions such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, aging. Vitamin K – easy bleeding and skeletal disorders Zinc – acne, reduced smell/taste, delayed wound healing, problems with hair, skin, nails. |
| Miscellaneous:
Fenofibrate (Tricor®) Gemfibrozil (Lopid®) |
Coenzyme Q10
(CoQ10) Vitamin E |
Coenzyme Q10 – High blood pressure, Congestive Heart Failure (CHF), low energy
Vitamin E – Greater free radical activity, increasing risk to conditions such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, aging. |
This information is all documented in the Drug-Induced Nutrient Depletion Handbook Second Edition. Has your pharmacist or doctor told you about these?
If you are taking prescription diuretics it is important to replace these vitamins and minerals as they are essential to our normal biochemical processes: growth and repair of tissues and metabolism.
Please let me know if you find this information helpful. Hit the comment button below and let me know if you have heard of this before, or if you have other questions about these medications.
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