Cholesterol

Did you know that elevated cholesterol in the blood has not always been considered a risk factor for coronary artery disease and stroke? When I first began practicing medicine in 1972, we considered any cholesterol level less than 320 normal. Now everyone is aware of the dangers of elevated cholesterol and we "know" to be especially concerned about LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol).

In 1989, however, Dr. Daniel Steinberg reported in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) that native LDL cholesterol is not bad. Claims Steinberg, it only becomes "bad" when LDL cholesterol is oxidized or modified by excessive "free radicals". When a person has enough antioxidants on board, LDL cholesterol does not become oxidized or "bad".

Since this landmark review article, several clinical trials have substantiated the fact that individuals who have the highest levels of antioxidants (vitamin C, vitamin E, beta-carotene, etc.) do have the lowest level of heart disease. Now the medical literature is further indicating that individuals who take supplemental antioxidants have a significantly lower incidence of vascular disease.

In the August 7, 1997 issue of the NEJM, Marco Diaz, M.D. wrote a review article on the use of antioxidants and heart disease. It seems that antioxidants not only decrease the risk of developing heart disease, but even in patients with advanced coronary artery disease antioxidants offer a significant benefit. The Cambridge Heart Antioxidant Study showed individuals with advanced coronary artery disease who consumed at least 400 I.U. of vitamin E had 77% fewer nonfatal heart attacks over those who took a placebo..

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