Blood Lipid Parameters
Total Cholesterol - Desirable < 200 mg/dL - Borderline 200-239 mg/dL - High >= 240 mg/dL
Low-Density Lipoproteins (LDL) - Desirable< 130 mg/dL - Borderline 130-159 mg/dL - High >= 160 mg/dL
High-Density Lipoproteins (HDL) - Borderline > 35 mg/dL
(values >60 mg/dL are considered a negative risk factor)
Triglycerides - Borderline < 200 mg/dL

Lipids - Fats
Fats, or lipids, can be divided into three general categories: Triglycerides, Phospholipids and Sterols.

Triglycerides - (fats and oils) This is the main form of fat in the diet. Triglycerides provide us with energy, insulates, cushions and protects internal organs and helps our bodies use carbohydrates and proteins more efficiently. Triglycerides can be further divided into the following categories:

Saturated fats - Usually solid at room temperature, saturated fats contain the maximum number of hydrogen atoms (saturated with hydrogen). Saturated fats are considered the most detrimental to health.

Monounsaturated fats - Liquid at room temperature, monounsaturated fats include olive and canola oils. This type of fat tends to lower "bad" LDL cholesterol while leaving the "good" HDL cholesterol unchanged.

Polyunsaturated fats - Liquid at room temperature, polyunsaturated fats include corn oil, safflower oil and sunflower oil. This type of fat tends to lower both "bad" LDL and "good" HDL cholesterol.

Hydrogenated fats - This fat results from a process where hydrogen atoms are added back to polyunsaturated or monounsaturated fats to protect against rancidity . This procedure effectively causes hydrogenated fats to become saturated fats. Thus, if a food lists partially hydrogenated oils among its first three ingredients, it usually contains alot of trans-fatty acids and saturated fats.

Trans-fatty acids - In nature, most unsaturated fats are cis-fatty acids. During hydrogenation, the molecular structure changes from cis- to trans-fatty acids. Trans-fatty acids increase "bad" LDL cholesterol and lower "good" HDL cholesterol, which may increase heart disease risk.

Essential fatty acids - Essential fatty acids must be supplied by the diet. The body uses essential fatty acids to maintain the structural parts of cell membranes. They are also used as a component in the production of hormone-like substances (eicosanoids) that help regulate blood pressure, clot formation, and maintain the immune response.

Linoleic Acid - The Omega-6 family. Common sources for these essential fatty acids are vegetable oils and meats. Most individuals can ensure an adequate intake of Omega-6 fatty acids by including grains, seeds, leafy vegetables, and small amounts of vegetable oils and meats in the diet.
Linolenic Acid - The Omega-3 family. Linolenic acid is a major component of the communicating membranes of the brain, and is active in the eye's retina. It is essential for growth and development. Fish, in particular, is abundant in both Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids.

Phospholipids - (eg. lecithin) Phospholipids help transport fat-soluble vitamins, hormones and other substances through cell membranes. Because they can dissolve in both water and fat, they act as an emulsifier, helping to keep fats suspended in body fluids and blood. The liver can produce all the body's phospholipids from scratch, therefore it is not an essential nutrient.

Sterols - Sterols include cholesterol, vitamin D and sex hormones. The are a component of bile, sex hormones (testosterone), adrenal hormones (cortisol) and are a structural component of cell membranes. 9/10 of the body's cholesterol is stored in cells.

Cholesterol - The liver manufacturers about 800-1500 mg. of cholesterol per day, which contributes much more to total body cholesterol than does diet. The liver can also make cholesterol from carbohydrates, proteins or fat. Only animal foods contain cholesterol. Excess cholesterol harms the body when it forms deposits on artery walls, leading to atherosclerosis and heart disease. Cholesterol can be further divided into HDLs and LDLs:

Low-Density Lipoproteins (LDL) - Considered "bad" cholesterol. It is produced in the liver and circulates through the body, transporting fat to the muscles, heart, fat stores and other tissues.

High-Density Lipoproteins (HDL) - Considered "good" cholesterol. It is produced by the liver to carry cholesterol and phospholipids from the cells back to the liver for recycling and/or excretion. Because HDLs represent cholesterol removal from arteries and blood to the liver for breakdown and disposal, it is considered "good" cholesterol. Therefore, high levels of HDL cholesterol is considered a negative risk factor for heart disease.

Update June 05 -
12 years of clinical research for people with lipids or cholesterol concerns

Lipidol is the result of 12 years of clinical research and it has been shown to be both safe and effective for promoting heart health.
Lipidol works by helping to maintain existing normal cholesterol production in the liver, rather than blocking its absorption.

What is Lipidol? Lipidol contains a proprietary formula including polymethoxylated flavonoids from citrus fruit, palm fruit extract, lemongrass, EPA and DHA to create an all natural product that targets multiple steps in the pathway of cholesterol and lipoprotein synthesis. The efficacy and safety of citrus polymethoxylated flavonoids, palm fruit extract and lemongrass are supported by over 30 studies, and the cardio-friendly effects of EPA and DHA are supported by literally thousands.

What are the health benefits of Lipidol?
Cardiovascular health includes among other factors:
1) desirable-levels of lipoprotein structural components (such as apo B, an LDL precursor, triglycerides, and cholesterol itself)
2) antioxidant protection against LDL-oxidation
3) proper balance of anti-inflammatory response
Each ingredient targets one or more of the above factors.

Polymethoxylated Flavonoids - Preclinical studies have shown that the specific citrus polymethoxylated flavonoids found in Cholestin, tangeretin and nobiletin inhibited the secretion of apo B, an LDL-C precursor, from HepG2 cells (Kurowska, 2004a; 2002). A separate study showed that tangeretin inhibits apoB production by suppressing diacylglycerol actyltransferase, the final enzyme in the pathway of triglyceride synthesis, where the latter plays an important role in apoB formation (Staack, 2005). In liver cells, tangeretin rapidly reduced apoB secretion (82% reduction); it also decreased intracellular synthesis of cholesteryl esters (45% reduction), free cholesterol (64% reduction), and triacylglycerols (37% reduction). This suppression of TAG synthesis and mass were associated with decreased diacylglycerol (DAG) aceyltransferase and microsomal triglyceride transfer protein (MTP) activities (Kurowska, 2004b).

In addition to its ability to reduce plasma cholesterol concentrations, nobiletin was shown in vitro to inhibit macrophage foam cell formation (Whitman, 2005).

Tocotrienols - A number of clinical studies using tocotrienols derived from palm fruit or rice bran have been performed. Subjects receiving tocotrienol supplementation for 4-8 weeks experienced significant drops in total cholesterol of 15-20%, with the major reduction being in LDL-C, whereas HDL-C remained essentially unchanged. In a trial with pure gamma tocotrienol, similar reductions were also observed (Theriault, 1999).

Geraniol - Geraniol has been shown to exhibit potent HMG-CoA reductase activity in vitro,
more powerful than the hypolipidemic drug mevacor.
These results indicate that geraniol primarily suppresses HMG-CoA reductase synthesis at a post-transcriptional level by attenuating HMG-CoA reductase mRNA translational efficiency. (Peffley, 2003).

Reference

DHA and EPA - Haglund O, et al. The effect of fish oil on triglycerides, cholesterol, fibrinogen and malondialdehyde in humans supplemented with vitamin E. J Nutr 1991;121:165-169.

Haglund O, et al. Effects of fish oil on triglycerides, cholesterol, lipoprotein(a), atherogenic index and fibrinogen. Influence of degree of purification of the oil. Nutrition Research 1992;12:455-468.

April 11, 2002 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) indicates that omega-3’s (DHA & EPA) can lower triglyceride levels.

What makes Lipidol unique? Lipidol targets multiple steps in the pathway of cholesterol production, protects against LDL oxidation, supports normal healthy platelet adhesion and aggregation, as well as normal healthy prostaglandin activity.

We do not feel that there would be any contraindication taking Cholestin with Lipidol and Statin drugs together. However, because we are not your personal doctor, we would recommend consulting your doctor before combining natural supplements with any drug treatment.

The cheapest way to buy this product is to buy directly from the pharmaceutical company website. Here is a direct safe link: Click here