Reducing Cholesterol Experiment

[Pale1]

Also from the LEF article:

There are two safe forms of niacin:
•Immediate-release/crystalline niacin is available as a nutritional supplement and is inexpensive and effective. The niacin in each table is released immediately and usually provokes a “hot flush,” a warm, itchy feeling of the skin. For this reason, starting at small doses, such as 250 mg, can be helpful. The dose can be increased gradually (by 250 mg every four weeks) to achieve the desired amount. Doses greater than 500 mg per day should be used only under medical supervision. Some people take their niacin in small doses, three or four times daily, to spread out the dose. This could be unsafe, and I recommend that patients never take immediate-release niacin more than twice a day.
•Extended-release niacin is a time-release preparation, but does not act as slowly as slow-release niacin. This makes it safer than the slow-release preparations that can cause liver side effects. Extended-release niacin also provokes fewer hot flushes than immediate-release niacin. An example is Slo-Niacin®, which is sold over the counter. Niaspan® is an extended-release niacin preparation sold as a prescription drug.

[thisAngelBites]

That was a really informative article that you linked to above Kel. & it looks like maybe you & I may both be taking the wrong approach in dosing. I'm spreading mine out, which it advises against, & you're using slo niacin, which it also advises against.



EDIT!!!: I see that you ARE IN FACT using one of the suggested forms of niacin. I was confusing SLO & SLOW. Not the same apparently.

I thought the same thing! How tragic that they called it Slo Niacin instead of extended release or something, it is a confusing at first glance.

[kelkel]

Quick update:

Directly below is from 6 months ago:


[_____________________] [__*__________] [______________________]

Pattern B..........................Pattern A/B.........Pattern A
Small, Dense LDL (bad)................................Large, buoyant LDL (good)



Below is from 6 months later (this week)


New level
[_____________________] [____________] [______*________________]

Pattern B..........................Pattern A/B.........Pattern A
Small, Dense LDL (bad)................................Large, buoyant LDL (good

Very happy with this progress. Went from small, dense particles labeled "abnormal" to the good stuff. Nice! Progress with supplements!

[j2048b]

Quick update: Directly below is from 6 months ago: [_____________________] [__*__________] [______________________] Pattern B..........................Pattern A/B.........Pattern A Small, Dense LDL (bad)................................Large, buoyant LDL (good) Below is from 6 months later (this week) New level [_____________________] [____________] [______*________________] Pattern B..........................Pattern A/B.........Pattern A Small, Dense LDL (bad)................................Large, buoyant LDL (good Very happy with this progress. Went from small, dense particles labeled "abnormal" to the good stuff. Nice! Progress with supplements!

Damn brother thats amazing! What all r u taking now? I need to pm u and ask u a few diet q's as well! Because no matter what ive done mine is still high!!

[kelkel]

Read the whole thread j20. It's all there along with supporting links.
Still taking the same stuff but did switch a while ago to a RYR powder from overseas. This way it will have more of the natural statins still in it that are often removed in the states per the FDA. Even though they do a poor job of policing said removal.

[j2048b]

Read the whole thread j20. It's all there along with supporting links. Still taking the same stuff but did switch a while ago to a RYR powder from overseas. This way it will have more of the natural statins still in it that are often removed in the states per the FDA. Even though they do a poor job of policing said removal.

Kel,

Ive read it all and even have all the supps u recommend, thats y i asked because i was not sure if it maybe the new RYR u had gotten... Thats all... Can u give me info on where to get said ryr? Thanks kel!

[The_Crawfish]

Good job Kel!

[kelkel]

Kel,

Ive read it all and even have all the supps u recommend, thats y i asked because i was not sure if it maybe the new RYR u had gotten... Thats all... Can u give me info on where to get said ryr? Thanks kel!

This is it:

Amazon.com: Pure Chinese Red Yeast Rice Bulk Powder. (250G): Health & Personal Care

It tastes like shiat no matter what you mix it with. You don't need a scale, half a teaspoon is 1200mg's.

[j2048b]

This is it: Amazon.com: Pure Chinese Red Yeast Rice Bulk Powder. (250G): Health & Personal Care It tastes like shiat no matter what you mix it with. You don't need a scale, half a teaspoon is 1200mg's.

Thank you kel!! Ill get me some!

[kelkel]

Thank you kel!! Ill get me some!

You're welcome. Now, be consistent with your testing protocol and supplements and let us know how you do on this thread or pm me please. I'd love to see someone else make good progress as well.

[j2048b]

You're welcome. Now, be consistent with your testing protocol and supplements and let us know how you do on this thread or pm me please. I'd love to see someone else make good progress as well.

will do, i just ordered the ryr u recommended and it will be here next week, so ill include it along with the rest of ur stack...

NOTE:

im also starting up a new diet with "the scientist" who works with john meadows... name is trevor, is over on pm forums... so with that and these supps, im really hoping this cholesterol melts away!

ill keep this post updated, and also pm u if i forget to update here...

how often or when should one gauge their next blood work after starting this protocol?

[kelkel]

Something like this takes time. I simply retest it every six months during my normal doc visit.
Remember to cut out sugar as well.

[j2048b]

Something like this takes time. I simply retest it every six months during my normal doc visit. Remember to cut out sugar as well.

Will do man! Sugar is gonna be the hardest, but i know it leads to worse crap than most other stuff put into ur body! Ill keep u updated!

[OdinsOtherSon]

Bump

[MuscleInk]

Subscribed. Will come back to this later in the week when I get that TBI lecture out of the way. Interested in reading those links you've posted.

Great work as always big man.

MI

[Slacker78]

Something like this takes time. I simply retest it every six months during my normal doc visit.
Remember to cut out sugar as well.

Kelkel, you mean to cut off all sugars with an high glycemic index ? I think you are concerning about this... i couldn't give up rice and pasta and... bananas..... :P

[kelkel]

For me it was simply cutting out the crap sugars. Sugar in coffee, junk, etc. Hell, I'd never give up rice, pasta's. Ever.

[Beethoven]

For me it was simply cutting out the crap sugars. Sugar in coffee, junk, etc. Hell, I'd never give up rice, pasta's. Ever.

So do you use any kind of sweetener at all or no?

[Slacker78]

So do you use any kind of sweetener at all or no?

I don't use any kind of sweetener

coffee: always bitter . If you mean raw sugar of sweetener, i don't use them at all.

[Slacker78]

I suppose that honey and jam are the worst evil being we talking of sugars.. isn't it ..... :P

[lovbyts]

Jam yes, honey not so much. If you need to use anything natural is the way to go.

[kelkel]

So do you use any kind of sweetener at all or no?

None. Just cream in my coffee now. I don't think I could drink it with sugar anymore. You adapt and tastes change.

[Trevtrev]

This thread got me thinking. I'm going to get a VAP test in a few weeks and see what I find.

Thanks Kel!

[kelkel]

Good Trev. Let me know how it goes. Google or youtube Dr. Stephen Sinatra and listen to some of his stuff or read his book. I referenced it above.

[almostgone]

Guys,

I thought some may find this interesting. I struggle with cholesterol issues due to heredity and have been on a non-statin for a while. The last two sets of BW I requested a VAP Cholesterol profile which is a more detailed breakdown. A similar profile called an NMR Lipo Profile is also available. Here's a link to the the VAP Profile:

http://www.medfusion.net/templates/g.../12677/VAP.pdf


Here are some of my results from 6 months ago and this week. Left and right respectively:

6 mo ago.............................................. Current

LDL...............131........ Range......<130.......99
LDL-R............119.......................<100...... 89
Triglycerides.....76.......................<150... ... 63
Non HDL Chol..147.......................<160......113
IDL...................9...................... < 20.........7

Most interesting to me is the LDL Density Pattern which gives a scale like below:

old level
[______________*_______] [____________] [______________________]

Pattern B..........................Pattern A/B.........Pattern A
Small, Dense LDL (bad)................................Large, buoyant LDL (good)

New level
[_____________________] [__*__________] [______________________]

Pattern B..........................Pattern A/B.........Pattern A
Small, Dense LDL (bad)................................Large, buoyant LDL (good


Old density pattern was termed as "abnormal" which always makes you feel good. I wasn't labeled on this new one, but I'm thrilled it has improved. Naturally I immediately thought of this:

Mel Brooks' Young Frankenstein - "Whose Brain I did put in?" - YouTube


But back on topic. The changes I made were the following:

1. NAC 600mg 2-3 x per day
2. Slo-Niacin 750mg at bedtime
3. Red Yeast Rice 1200mg 2-3 times per day
4. Eliminated all sugar. Basically just meant no sugar in my coffee.

NAC:
Dose-related increase of HDL-cholester... [Pharmacol Res. 1993 Oct-Nov] - PubMed - NCBI

RYR:
Powdered red yeast rice and plant stanols and s... [J Diet Suppl. 2012] - PubMed - NCBI

Niacin:
Niacin and cholesterol: role in cardiovascula... [J Nutr Biochem. 2003] - PubMed - NCBI
Using Niacin to Improve Cardiovascular Health - Life Extension

Sugar:
Influence of dietary carbohydrate and f... [Curr Atheroscler Rep. 2005] - PubMed - NCBI



Anyway, just wanted to share my progress with hopes it can enlighten or encourage others with the same struggle. I encourage everyone with issues to read anything from Dr. Stephen Sinatra. Google or Youtube him. His book, "The Great Cholesterol Myth" is top notch. Crisler, btw, considers him the best in his field.

Kel

LMAO....I remember "Abby Normal" from Young Frankenstein. Glad this was bumped. I've never had a problem with my lipids using the generic LDL/HDL/tris testing, but never have had the "VAP" profile type test....yet. Time to do some reading.

[lovbyts]

Wow, numbers came down quite a bit. I also added Slow Niacin to my vitamin regiment a little over a month ago and I go in for my cholesterol test pretty soon. Mine has also always been high and they have me on low dose crestor (I know). My biggest problem is getting my good cholesterol (HDL) up. My bad use to be really high but I managed to get it down the last couple of years.

Haha, got to love Mel Brooks

[< <Samson> >]

Any suggestions on keeping this nasty ass red yeast shit down? This shat is straight horrid!

[lovbyts]

Any suggestions on keeping this nasty ass red yeast shit down? This shat is straight horrid!

Cap it and drink lots of water.

I'm adding Policosanol to my Cholesterol regiment.

[kelkel]

Any suggestions on keeping this nasty ass red yeast shit down? This shat is straight horrid!

I do mine with my middle of the night chocolate protein drink. It masks the nasty taste a little. Emphasis on little. Just remember it's for the greater good....

[< <Samson> >]

Also how long should this nasty ass shit be ran? I read through here & some one asked. But, I never seen a reply.

[kelkel]

Can't answer that. Only your continued BW can. Remember, although RYR's a supplement it contains monocolins that are known to block cholesterol. Specifically monocolin-K which is basically an herbal lovastatin. It's why the FDA regulated this aspect out of it as well as making them advertise it differently. It's also why for maximum benefit it must be bought over-seas. All that said, use caution as you should with any supplement.

[jimmyinkedup]

I just throw it in my mouth and chug some water. You get used to it. The best affirmation I got re this was Kels contacting me with his improvement after using the RYR supp I was using which corresponded with my personal improvements as well. Thanks so much for putting this out there with all this detail kel. Great info. Actually should be stickied IMO.

[< <Samson> >]

Well, I am def not a fan of this shit's nastiness . . . . But, if it works - it works



Seems like a damn solid regimen to me

Edit:

I think I got a fairly decent method for drinking this nastiness. I mixed it with about 8oz's of ice cold water & my glutamine. Mix it real well, so there is no nasty ass clumps. Not that bad.


So, 2x a day is enough for NAC & the Red Nasty right?

[kelkel]

When I switched to RYR overseas powder I dropped back to once per day. So app 1200mgs. So far, so good. Maybe start at once per day and when you pull BW get the expanded NMR or VAP Profile to see where you're at.

[< <Samson> >]

One Niacin flush later & I seem to be fine


That was an interesting one, since last night was the 1st time I took the 750mg of Niacin. Dunno, if I should take another 750, or just half.

[kelkel]

Reread this from post #1:

Using Niacin to Improve Cardiovascular Health - Life Extension

Tips in it for dealing with the flush near the bottom.

[The Noose]

After reading this thread yesterday, I asked the Dr. for a script for Niaspan as my HDL is low, VLDL is high, and triglycerides are also high. He told me that he would not prescribe Niaspan. He didn't like it because the flush was too great for most of his patients. Instead he prescribed Fenofribrate. I told him I could mitigate the flush with a couple of glasses of water and a baby aspirin and he said no way - very frustrating. On a positive note, I went straight to the bookstore after the Dr appointment and bought a copy of the book, The Great Cholesterol Myth. Thanks kelkel. A lot of us guys really look up to you.

[kelkel]

No worries and glad to help Noose! Be sure to get that expanded profile on your next BW! You'll like the book.
Did you consider just picking up SLO-Niacin? Available OTC at many pharmacies or on-line.

[< <Samson> >]

Yeah, I read that when I was red as a beet


Took a baby aspirin and drank about a liter of water right before eating my late night chicken.

Noticed just a little of a flush which lasted about 10 minutes - no biggie

[< <Samson> >]

You sir are the man. . . My lipids are all well withing range now after 2 months of following your exact regimen. Since then I have ran even more gear, hear & there. Yet, my #'s are tits!


Now:
Cholesterol, Total 156
Triglycerides 80
Chol/HDL Ratio 4.1
HDL Cholesterol 38
Non HDL Cholesterol 118
LDL Calculated 102


Before:
Cholesterol, Total 198
Triglycerides 89
Chol/HDL Ratio 10.4
HDL Cholesterol 19
Non HDL Cholesterol 179
LDL Calculated xxx