Question: My cholesterol is too high, but I don’t want to take a statin. What else can I do?
Dr. Hibberd's answer:
Current guidelines emphasize the newer statins as the most effective agents for cholesterol management, since diet alone can’t lower your cholesterol very much. Other agents are available, but they are not regarded as safe or as potent as statins. Inability to use statins may require considering other options.
What you can do is increase your soluble fiber intake to reduce cholesterol by 10-15 percent. Fish oil supplements may help, and in some cases, prescription Lovaza — at a dose of up to 2 grams twice a day — may be necessary.
Treatment for any underlying disorders known to contribute to high cholesterol, such as hypothyroidism and diabetes, is also very important. The use of niacin may be considered, but you must enlist your doctor’s support here, as with any supplements.
In some cases, patients are electing for chelation therapy, but mainstream medicine still frowns on this, mainly due to its expense, its effect of removing other medications, and potential side effects when administered without appropriate monitoring.
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