Supplements contain vitamins and minerals that enable you to easily ingest goodness. One pill has been shown to lower “bad” cholesterol. What is it?
Scientists from the Department of Pharmacy at Camilo Castelo Branco University, in Brazil, investigated a certain supplement’s effects on cholesterol.
They recruited 30 volunteers who had previously been diagnosed with high cholesterol.
Those who took part in the experiment were between the ages of 58 and 70 years old.
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Each participant was given one daily capsule of 500mg of lecithin supplementation or a placebo.
The trial went on for two months, with blood samples measuring cholesterol levels taken at the beginning, after the one-month mark and at the end of the experiment.
Patients who took placebo capsules showed no differences in cholesterol levels after two months of administration.
Those who had taken the lecithin capsules had seen a significant decrease in the total cholesterol concentration and “bad” cholesterol during the trial.
This effect of cholesterol levels was noted after the first and second month of supplementation with lecithin.
The results revealed a decrease of total cholesterol of 40.65 percent in the first month, and 42.60 percent in the second month, in those who took lecithin.
Moreover, those who took the supplement saw a decrease of 42.65 percent of “bad” cholesterol in the first month.
By the second month, “bad” cholesterol had decreased by 56.11 percent.
The scientific community is said to believe that a decrease of only 10 percent in cholesterol is associated with a 27 percent reduction in cardiovascular disease risk.
As a result, the scientists confirmed that “lecithin is capable of reducing LDL [bad]cholesterol”.
It also promotes “HDL-cholesterol synthesis”, meaning lecithin encourages more “good” cholesterol in the bloodstream.
“Good” cholesterol picks up “bad” cholesterol – the kind that sticks to the artery’s wall – and transports it to the liver to be broken down.
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What’s lecithin?
Health store Holland and Barrett sell lecithin in supplementation form. Interestingly, they note it’s named after the Greek word for egg yolk, lekithos.
As well as supplementation, lecithin is found in certain foods, such as wholegrain, nuts, soybeans and egg yolks.
Once lecithin is inside the body, it’s broken down into choline – a vitamin-like nutrient.
Choline helps to break down fat into energy but, some people may be allergic to it.
This is likely if you suffer from an allergy for soya, soya beans, peanuts or legumes (beans, lentils, peas) and eggs.
Side effects of irritation include swelling, itching, rashes, stomach ache and diarrhoea.
It’s recommended to speak with your doctor about taking lecithin supplements to lower cholesterol levels.
This is so that you and your doctor can discuss your medical history and the best approach to your health for you.
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