Cholesterol lowering supplement

Abstract

The invention provides a composition and a method for lowering blood serum cholesterol levels or for preventing elevated blood serum cholesterol levels, as well as a suitable composition comprising (a) one or more phytosterols and / or phytostanols capable of reducing cholesterol absorption in the intestine and / or one or more soluble fibres capable of inhibiting ileal bile acid absorption, (b) a composition capable of inhibiting cholesterol biosynthesis, and (c) a composition capable of increasing cholesterol metabolism, wherein at least one of compositions (b) and (c) is preferably derived from plants.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the major cause of death and disability in industrialised countries, despite recent declines in CVD mortality rates. They account for more deaths annually than any other disease, including all forms of cancer combinedi. In the USA more than 1 million heart attacks occur each year and more than half a million people still die as a result. This enormous toll has focused attention on the possible prevention of CVD by various means, especially through lowering of plasma cholesterol levels. It is well established now that elevated total cholesterol, and in particular low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, in plasma plays an important role in the development of atherosclerosisii. Clinical trials have demonstrated clearly that decreasing cholesterol concentrations in plasma can contribute to primary and secondary prevention of coronary events and mortality.iii Some studies have estimated a 2% reduction in risk of a co...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0021] The combination composition disclosed here fulfils the need for cholesterol-reducing combinations having plant-derived active components. The composition according to the invention can therefore be administered for a longer period, thus making it suitable for use in compositions for reduction of blood serum cholesterol levels or prevention of elevated blood serum cholesterol levels. The invention provides a balanced composition for use in reducing blood serum cholesterol levels or preventing elevated blood cholesterol levels. These combination compositions avoid the potential side effects or compensatory effects associated with the administration of relatively high levels of components solely directed at reducing cholesterol absorption in the intestine or at inhibiting cholesterol synthesis or at increasing cholesterol metabolism, or at only two of those three mechanisms.

[0027] A further object of the present invention is to provide a method of reducing serum cholesterol levels or preventing elevated blood serum cholesterol levels comprising, administering to a person a composition comprising one or more phytosterols and / or phytostanols and / or soluble fibres, capable of reducing cholesterol absorption in the intestine and / or capable of inhibiting ileal bile acid absorption, an effective amount of a plant derived composition capable of inhibiting cholesterol biosynthesis and an effective amount of a plant derived composition capable of increasing cholesterol metabolism.

Problems solved by technology

Soluble fibres are able to interact with bile acids, which results in an increased faecal excretion of bile acids.

Further described is the main disadvantage of the above composition i.e. the use of statins, and the critical side effects related with the use of statins.

However, the herbal combination lacks a potent cholesterol absorption-inhibiting component.

Combination compositions including cholesterol absorption inhibitors and cholesterol synthesis inhibitors useful for reduction of blood serum cholesterol levels known in the art are mostly chemically manufactured compositions and the known compositions are therefore undesirable for many people, not natural and costly.

Additionally, the combination compositions known in the art cannot be used frequently for a longer period since negative side effects will occur.

Recent studies have indicated that drugs like statins, often used as HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors in combination compositions, and fibrates can be carcinogenic or cause other undesirable side effects.

Lovastatin was reported to cause liver failure (Tolmanxiii).