Simvastatin or Lovastatin?

James,

Lowering cholesterol for the prevention or treatment of
atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries may not be as
important as you or your doctor believe it to be. However,
modifying atherosclerosis through several other mechanisms
may be a more prudent way to address the disease.

Statins are important and should be considered as front
line therapy against atherosclerosis, but you should be
careful as to how you decide to add statins to your
therapeutic regimen.

Lovastatin, simvastatin and pravastatin are derived from the
fungus asperigillus terreus. Lovastatin is a natural product
whereas simvastatin and pravastatin are produced by semi
synthetic processes. Both simvastatin and lovastatin are pro
drugs that require a metabolic step in the body to make it
active for changing lipid profiles. Fluvastatin,
atorvastatin and cerivastatin are synthetic molecules and
their structures are distinct from the other statin
medications. Statins attenuate atherosclerosis through
several mechanisms. It is not known whether or not abnormal
cholesterol levels cause atherosclerosis or atherosclerosis
causes abnormal cholesterol levels.

You should also study red yeast extract, available without
prescription and generally inexpensive. One of the active
ingredients in red yeast extract is Monacolin K, derived
from the fungus Monascus purpureus. It is chemically
identical to the drug lovastatin, the first of a class
called “statins”, and is in my opinion a viable option for
adding statins to your program. Typically, red yeast
extracts are standardized from the raw materials
manufacturer to 0.4% lovastatin. However, you will not see
this analysis on the capsules/tablets sold in nutrition
stores; the FDA has determined it illegal to place it on
the label.

Before you embark on a therapeutic program to address
atherosclerosis, ask you doctor to arrange a test called
"Carotid Intima Media Thickness". With such a test, you
and your doctor will no longer be guessing how much
disease you have.

If you want to learn more about the test, visit our website;
the information is free.

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Winning against heart attack and stroke
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