TOO LITTLE CHOLESTEROL AND THE NEED FOR VITAMINS A K D E

Too little cholesterol increases the need for Vitamins A K D E.

Today statin users are being tested for a deficiencey in Vitamin D, this is because when cholesterol levels are low and kept low the need for this vitamin needs suplementation.

There is a disease condition called abetalipoproteinemia whereby the body has a defect, in that it is not able to manufacture or secrete lipoproteins containing products of the apolipoprotein B gene. This is due to a lack of a transfer protein which transports triglyceride, cholesterol ester and phospholipids from the surface of phospholipids.

In cholesterol that is too high apo B iS in abudance due to receptors that are malfunctioning and the body is not able to secrete Apo B and there is a build up of cholesterol on the walls of the arteries because of this defect.

High levels of apo B is considered a risk factor for coronary artery disease.

Vitamin E has come under scrutiny especially in smokers and the public has been advised not to take vit E because of the risk of developing lung cancer. So the case for vitamin E. Vit K fo those on a anticoagulant eg Heparin or Coumadin should check with your doctor as Vit K is the same as eating foods that contain Vit K and this will interfere with the medication.

Before taking any supplements check with your doctor first and make sure this is the right treatment for you as an individual.

It has been suggested that Vit E might stabilize or improve neuromuscular and retinial abnormalities seen in abetalipoproteinemia and manifestations of the disease such as neuropathy.Which many long term statin users develop.

Testing for Vit deficiences in those with high cholesterol and being treated either aggressively or passively with a statin is new and warrants investigation.

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PRESIDENT OBAMAS CHOLESTEROL LEVEL AND STRESS

It sems like everyone is blaming President Obamas increased cholesterol on what he eats. Apparently his cholesterol has risen from 176 prior to presidencey to 209 post election.

No one has addresed the stress factors that are related to his office. I'm sure every day he is bombarded with problems and with each new stress his cholesterol level rises.

He is up for more criticism now than probably at any other time in his life.

I hope he can find a good support group that will make feel more secure in his poition with the knowledge that he is doing a good job in spite of the Republicans.

my advice for what it is worth, take time to meditate and accent the positives and not the negatives.

I'm sure it is lonely at the top.

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SAVING MONEY WITH CHOLESTEROL LOWERING STATINS

This post is for those who are switched to a new statin.

On my last visit to the doctor I went on a new statin. I wanted to try the statin first before I incurred a 3 month supply of the medication which would lead to wasted money and medication.

My new medication was Lipitor so I went on Lipitors web site and they had a free months trial of the medication. What I needed to do was ask for a separate medication request for one months supply from the doctor, this was in lieu of the usual three month prescription. I printed the free offer coupon from the web site. I took both the one month prescription and the free trial form to a local pharmacy and they filled the medication for free.

It is usually less expensive to deal with a carrier such as Medco, Medco is an on line pharmacy that fills prescriptions usually at a rate that is less expensive then neighborhood pharmacies and can be accessed through your prescription carrier, eg Medicare part D

Hopefully this information will save you some money. I would certainly look into this avenue when going on to a new medication. I have only tried it for the above statin.

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NOT ALL STATINS ARE EQUAL FOR LOWERING CHOLESTEROL

I recently had my quarterly visit with my lipid specialist and I'm now back on a statin. The statin Iam taking is not as strong as the one I took about a year ago. I am now taking Lipitor. I was on Crestor and Crestor is a much stronger statin then Lipitor. THe reason given to me by the pharmacy is Crestor lowers cholesterol much faster than the other statins.

I was on a combinatin of Crestor and Niaspan and the side effects I had from the combination have subsided on a scale from 1 to 10. Iam an 8.I still have some neuropathy and my bones do not creak as much as they did. Just a little. On the mend.

Usually some one in my age is not treated as aggressively(that 29 and holding group) but when asked if my calf hurt I had to say no it does not.

My vit D level was 20 and this was with taking the vitamin previous to the testing. I am taking 1000mg of Vit D and it seems to be working.

My ldl without the statin was high all other labs were normal.

I have to thank my doctors for putting up with me. I was not the ideal patient. I do not suffer in silence, something akin to the Princess and the Pea.

I have taken a statin on and off over the last 10 years with B12 and folic acid for a high Homocystine and when I had my heart cam done I was in the 20% group. This is good but there was a lot of material around the area.

The treatment I had and still continue is called Preventitive Cardiology and this is the name my group of doctor's go by and how they treat.

Treatment is geared to individual needs and how I was treated may not be the same as someone else.

I had to decide where I was going with my treatment and make the decision as to what I was going to take, along with my doctor's input.

I will continue to post on the mechanisms of lipids and report my progress .

Stay healthy