Statin, flavonoids and bergamot juice

18 Agosto 2014 Off Di admin

Some cardiologists are not prescribing statins routinely, but instead are offering some patients plant extracts instead to lower cholesterol, for example citrus bergamot. Intriguing is the use of citrus bergamot to normalize cholesterol with some patients, instead of routinely prescribing statins.
Citrus bergamot is becoming more popular as an alternative to statins on a global basis

Can citrus bergamot lower your cholesterol as opposed to taking prescription statin drugs? Recently have been appearing documents the health benefits/effects of citrus bergamot. Check out the site, “Health Benefits Of Bergamot.” A recently published research on Journal of Natural Products 2009 showed Citrus Bergamot has “statin like” principles, “carrying the 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaric acid (HMG) moiety.” How healthy are the flavonoids?

Four flavonoids have been identified in citrus bergamot that are able to interfere with the natural synthesis of cholesterol in human body, by inhibiting the activity of the first enzyme in the cholesterol synthesis pathway: HMG-CoA reductase (3-hydroxy-3-methyl glutaril-coenzyme A reductase). These flavonoids is linked to 3-metil-3–hydroxy glutarile portion, which is exactly the substrate of HMG-CoA reductase.

This suggests that these compounds mimic endogenous HMG-CoA substrate and interfere with the synthesis of mevalonate, a critical compound at the top of the cholesterol synthesis pathway. By interfering with mevalonate synthesis, the polyphenolic flavanoids block the cholesterol production in the human body in a way similar to statins.

The presence of these flavones in the bergamot juice explains popular knowledge and recent clinical data on blood cholesterol-reducing potential of citrus bergamot. That’s some of the reasons why citrus bergamot has been offered to people who don’t want to take prescription statins as a possible alternative.

Flavones in citrus bergamot may lower cholesterol

Cholesterol-lowering properties of bergamot juice were discovered in an Italian study published in the November 2010 “Fitoterapia” journal. Bergamot reduced total cholesterol LDL — the bad cholesterol, triglycerides, and blood sugar and increased HDL — the good cholesterol, in patients with elevated cholesterol who consumed bergamot extract for 30 days, according to the study.

What researchers looked for was that bergamot inhibited the enzyme HMG-CoA reductase, which promotes cholesterol synthesis, and lowered blood pressure. Researchers found that HMG-CoA reductase is active when blood glucose is high. So, by lowering blood sugar levels, citrus bergamot also indirectly affects the activity of HMG-CoA reductase.

The Bergamot juice has also been found to contribute to a healthy heart.