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Health See other Health Articles Title: Alternatives to the Latest Cholesterol Drugs CHN... Praluent There’s a new cholesterol fighting sheriff in town, called “Praluent”. The first of a class of drugs called PCSK9s (Proprotein Convertase Subtilisin/Kexin Type 9) Inhibitors. These are biological type substances, cloned in a laboratory, that act to shut down the cholesterol processing machinery on the outside of cells. They’re derivatives of a type of chemical called an “Anti-Body”, a science fiction like component of the body’s immune (defense) system that can be thought of as a high tech biochemical weapon - Biology’s versions of seek and destroy missiles. Over the past ten years, pharmaceutical companies have figured out how to economically produce these chemical weapons, colloquially referred to a “Biologics”. The idea is that by targeting specific problem causing biochemicals for destruction, troublesome symptoms can be reduced. The two best-selling PCSK9s, biologics Humira and Embrel, are used to treat rheumatoid arthritis (RA). They work by targeting and destroying the inflammatory factors that are associated with joint deterioration and muscle pain. The third bestselling biologic Remicade aims for inflammatory factors in the colon and is used to treat Crohn’s Disease. Other biologics are used to treat Cancer, Psoriasis and neurological conditions. Research engines at pharmaceutical companies are firing on all cylinders searching feverishly for the next biologic blockbuster. The latest of Big Pharma biologic creations, Praluent works by targeting a protein that controls how much cholesterol is removed from the blood and stashed into cells. Under normal healthy conditions the protein, called PCSK9, suppresses this extraction, assuring there’s enough circulating LDL cholesterol and an appropriate balance between the amount of the critical fatty substance that’s floating thorough the blood with the amount that stashed away in cells. The new drug, by targeting/inhibiting PCSK9, eradicates the suppressant protein and its effects resulting in more extraction and less circulating LDL Cholesterol. But all that high tech doesn’t come cheap. Patients and insurance companies can spend a thousand dollars a month or more and annual sales of the class as a whole is worth tens of billions of dollars a year. In a sales-rich market place that lucrative, it was only a matter of time before drug companies targeted these technologies to exploit the granddaddy of all heath memes, Cholesterol-mania. Although Praluent, which will set you back approximately $14,000.00 a year, is the first biologic that lowers cholesterol, you can expect more to come. What’s worse is all that lucre may not guarantee a healthy heart. Although no one disputes Praluent certainly lowers LDL cholesterol (some studies show by up to 60 percent), as it turns out the drug's ability to reduce heart attacks and strokes has not been proven. While studies are still being undertaken, to prove that the drugs could really prevent heart attacks and strokes, results are not expected until around 2017 and then there are the inevitable side effects. Patients treated with PCSK9 inhibitors had higher rates of joint and limb pain, Arthralgia, headache, limb pain and fatigue, compared with placebo-treated patients. There were injection-site reactions, including redness, itching and swelling in subjects treated with the drugs. Though, most troublesome of all were the negative effects on the brain. According to Barry Mennen, MD, a Washington, DC-based practicing physician, who has been in the pharmaceutical industry for 30 years, up to 1.5 percent of patients using Praluent experienced neurocognitive symptoms including confusion and memory loss. These should come as no surprise as Cholesterol plays a vital part in maintaining the integrity and health of brain and nerve cells. In addition to its important role in neurology, Cholesterol is a building and stress management substance. When the body is building muscles and repairing tissue more Cholesterol will circulate in the blood. Also, there is the presence of sugar and insulin. It’s a well-known medical fact, that diabetes and high blood Cholesterol are interrelated. They’re part of a complex of symptoms doctors call Metabolic Syndrome that include high blood pressure, Arrhythmias and increased blood clotting. The fastest way to lower Cholesterol is to reduce your intake of sugar and refined flour. Using nutrients that help the body process sugar can be helpful especially the B-vitamins. Vitamin B3, Niacin, is especially important. It has developed a reputation for its therapeutic effects for lowering blood fats, Cholesterol and sugar too. Timed release niacin capsules have been recommended by savvy pharmacists for years; I remember keeping them behind the counter as a go-to, non-prescription, cholesterol lowering nutraceutical, in the pre-statin days. Because the B’s are water-soluble they’re eliminated from the body pretty quickly, so it’s easy to become deficient. Eggs, dairy and organ meats are nature’s richest sources of B’s but veggies are good too and with vegetables you get lots of fiber that has its own beneficial effects for Cholesterol and sugar. Use veggie juices and liquid supplements on a daily basis and your cholesterol will drop like a stone and your blood sugar levels will improve at the same time. 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#1. To: Tatarewicz (#0)
The last paragraph is key here.
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