St Johns Wort And Antidepressants
You need to be wary of over-the-counter or prescription drugs that can interact poorly with supplements, says Robert Glatter, MD, an assistant professor of emergency medicine at Northwell Health in New York City. For example, St. Johns wort may cause fever, confusion, and anxiety if its taken with other antidepressants. Antidepressants and St Johns wort both increase levels of the feel-good brain chemical serotonin. This can cause serotonin syndrome and in severe cases, it may lead to muscle rigidity and seizures, he says.
Melatonin And Other Sedating Herbs
You can easily overdo herbs or supplements with sedative properties. These include melatonin, valerian, ashwagandha, kava, and St. Johnss Wort: When taken together, they can cause too much sleepiness, Dr. Cooperman says. Always read the labels to find out what you can expect from supplements. Here are some more things to know if you are going to take melatonin.
Are Coffee Or Other Hot Drinks Allowed Before I Have My Blood Taken
Regardless of how you take them, hot drinks especially coffee can have an effect on the results of the blood test you are required to have. This is due to the things coffee contains such as caffeine and other ingredients that can have a negative effect on the results of your test. Hot drinks such as tea and coffee are also part of a group known as diuretics, which means that it will increase the need to pass water. Not drinking enough water before the blood test can have a dehydrating effect. The more dehydrated that you are, it will increase the likelihood that the medical professional whos doing your blood test will find it difficult to locate a vein. This can make the experience hard for the patient especially if they dont like needles.
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How L Reuteri Ncimb 30242 Works
One of the main functions of the gallbladder is to release a fluid called bile. Bile breaks down fats and oils in the intestinal tract, making cholesterol available for digestion.
This is important, because cholesterol is needed by the body to form cell membranes, create hormones, and perform other functions.
But cholesterol levels can become too high due to excess dietary intake, excess cholesterol release from the liver, or genetic predisposition. Higher blood levels of cholesterol raise the risk of cardiovascular disease.13,22
The probiotic strain L. reuteri NCIMB 30242 can produce an enzyme called bile salt hydrolase. This enzyme breaks certain chemical bonds of cholesterol and bile acids. This makes cholesterol less water-soluble and less absorbable.23
As a result, instead of entering the bloodstream , excess cholesterol becomes trapped in the gut. It is eventually excreted from the body in feces, reducing cholesterol levels in the blood.23
L. reuteri NCIMB 30242 may provide a second mechanism for cholesterol reduction.
When the enzyme released by this probiotic strain helps breaks down cholesterol, the resulting bile acids act as potent signaling molecules. These molecules regulate cholesterol metabolism, accelerating the breakdown and excretion of cholesterol.24-27
The end result is that L. reuteri NCIMB 30342 reduces total and LDL cholesterol levels.
Potential Mechanisms For Probiotic Action
Probiotics may reduce cholesterol levels by several mechanisms:
- When bile acids are deconjugated, they pass unabsorbed through the small intestine, enter the colon and are excreted with the feces. More cholesterol is then shunted into the production of bile acids, thus lowering blood cholesterol levels. And deconjugated bile acids coprecipitate with dietary cholesterol, leading to lower absorption and increased excretion of cholesterol and cholesterol based components such as bile acids. Deconjugation is catalyzed by bile salt hydrolase . BSH activity has been detected in specific strains of lactobacilli and bifidobacteria, which are routinely used as probiotics. Precipitation in the acidic environment of the gut can also reduce plasma cholesterol level by slowing its absorption from food into the blood.
- Incorporation ofcholesterol in the cell membrane of new microorganisms: This may divert cholesterol from the blood. However evidence is only derived from in vitro studies.
- HMG-CoA reductase is a vital enzyme in cholesterol synthesis. Lactobacillus strains have been shown to suppress HMGCR levels in vitro.
- Short chain fatty acid production: Specific probiotic organisms feed on prebiotic fibers, producing short chain fatty acids such as butyrate and propionate, both of which may inhibit liver cholesterol synthesis. Thus probiotics when paired with appropriate prebiotics may be beneficial.
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Reducing The Absorption Of Cholesterol From Our Food
Some probiotic bacteria take up cholesterol from their surrounding environment and others have a sticky surface which cholesterol attaches to, preventing it from being absorbed in the gut2. Other probiotic strains prevent cholesterol from being absorbed by converting it into another compound called coprostanol3. Coprostanol cannot be absorbed in the intestines and is therefore eliminated in our stool.
What Is The Best Time Of Day To Take Probiotics
When taking prophylactics on an empty stomach, the goodbacteria will make it to the gut as quickly as possible. Before going to bed at night, the best time to take a probiotic is first thing in the morning.
If you are taking probiotics for a long period of time, you may want to consider taking them with a meal. This will allow the bacteria to get a chance to colonize the stomach and intestines before you start eating again.
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Why Do We Need To Consume Probiotics
Most bacteria in probiotics do have similar characteristics to the beneficial microorganisms in our system. Therefore, they bring a lot of positive impact on our general health. In some cases, probiotics might interact with any types of medications in the specific ways to provide your body the best effectiveness. Lets see some following noticeable effects of probiotics.
Probiotics May Lower Your Cholesterol
A number of large studies have shown that certain probiotics may be able to lower blood cholesterol, particularly in people with high cholesterol levels.
One of these, a review of 15 studies, specifically examined the effects of Lactobacilli.
There are two main types of cholesterol: high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, which is generally seen as good cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, which is generally viewed as bad cholesterol.
This review found that, on average, Lactobacillus probiotics significantly reduced both total cholesterol and bad LDL cholesterol levels .
The review also found that two types of Lactobacillus probiotics, L. plantarum and L. reuteri, were particularly effective in reducing cholesterol levels.
In one study of 127 people with high cholesterol, taking L. reuteri for 9 weeks significantly lowered total cholesterol by 9% and bad LDL cholesterol by 12% .
A larger meta-analysis combining the results of 32 other studies also found a significant beneficial effect in reducing cholesterol .
In this study, L. plantarum, VSL#3, L. acidophilus and B. lactis were particularly effective.
Probiotics were also more effective when taken by people with higher cholesterol, when taken for a longer period of time and when taken in capsule form.
There are a number of ways that probiotics may reduce cholesterol .
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Medical Conditions To Report
It is important to let your healthcare professional know about any medical condition you have before you start taking statins. Chief among these is liver disease. Statins can further impair liver function, causing an elevation in liver enzymes that indicates inflammation or damage to liver cells.
Having liver disease doesn’t automatically mean you can’t use statins. However, it factors into the decision as to whether statins are the best or only options available. Cases of alcohol use disorder also require caution, since liver injury may occur when statins are added to the mix.
Statins are contraindicated in pregnancy due to early reports that they may cause birth defects. Although a number of studies have questioned the association, it is nevertheless wise to avoid them just in case.
The same applies to the use of statins during breastfeeding, since the drugs can be passed in breast milk to your baby.
Biochemical And Immunometric Assays
In each blood sample, TC, TG, HDL-C, apoAI, apoB, Lp, fasting plasma glucose , uric acid, aspartate aminotransferase , alanine aminotransferase , gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase , and creatine phosphokinase isoenzymes were measured according to standard automated clinical procedure. LDL-C was calculated according to the Friedewald formula. Non-HDL-C was calculated as TC minus HDL-C. Commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits were used according to manufacturers specifications and previously published protocols to quantify PCSK9 , fibroblast growth factor 19 and FGF21, C-reactive protein . In addition, oxidized LDL , and insulin were also measured . The homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance index was calculated as follows: HOMA-IR=.
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Probiotics And Heart Health
Clinical research published earlier this year has found that probiotics can significantly improve health in those at risk of heart disease7. An important connection exists between the gut microbiome, probiotics and heart health8. Our gut microbiome plays a role in our cholesterol levels, weight, blood pressure levels, inflammation in the body, and oral health, each of which are important factors in heart health. Probiotics have been used in research and found to positively influence a number of factors associated with poor heart health.
What Are Normal Cholesterol Numbers
Everyone aged 20 years and older should have his or her cholesterol levels checked at least once every 5 years. The blood test should be taken after fasting for 9 to 12 hours.
You should aim for a total cholesterol level of < 200 mg/dL. Levels of 240 mg/dL or above are considered high. For LDL, lower levels are better, and the goal should be below 130 mg/dL, with < 100 mg/dL being optimal. For HDL, higher numbers are better. An HDL level < 40 mg/dL is a major risk factor for developing heart disease. You want to aim for levels of 60 mg/dL or better to help lower this risk.
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Can I Take Medication Before A Fasting Blood Test
Blood tests have a vast variety of uses and can tell a medical practitioner a lot about the general health of an individual. For instance, a blood test can be utilized in order to:
- Assess your general state of health
- Check if you have an infection
- See how efficiently vital organs within the body are performing
- Screen for certain genetic conditions
The majority of blood tests only take a few minutes to complete and are carried out at your GP surgery or local hospital by a doctor, nurse or phlebotomist who is a specialist who is qualified simply in the act of obtaining blood from individuals.
Supplements To Take With Statins
The drugs known as statinsthe most widely prescribed drugs in the USstake their claim to fame on their ability to reduce LDL cholesterol.
Thats the kind that gunks up your arteries and increases your risk of congestive heart failure and heart attack, among other bad situations.
Lowered LDL is a good outcome for many people. But statins arent a good way to get it.
When the warnings on the label include a heightened risk of type 2 diabetes and elevated blood sugar levels, youre looking at a claim to infamy, not fame. Thats deadly serious stuff.
Nevertheless, millions of people remain on statins. Even though they are also linked to:
- Tripled risk of artery calcification, making heart disease more dangerous, not less
- Depletion of essential nutrients, including vital coenzyme Q10
- Erectile dysfunction
- Heart attack, abnormal heartbeat, and stroke
- Hardening of the arteries
- High blood pressure
EPA and DHA, working together, can help prevent them, reduce their severity, or even reverse some of them.
On statins belongs on the list of problems above.
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Supplements To Avoid When Taking Statins
If you take statins to improve your blood cholesterol levels, some supplements may interfere with the effectiveness of statins or increase your risk of side effects, some potentially life-threatening. Supplements to avoid when taking statins include antioxidants, red yeast rice and grapefruit seed extract. Talk to your doctor before taking statins in combination with any kind of supplement or medication.
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Can You Take Probiotics With Vitamins
**The dizzying array of nutritional supplements can be confusing for those looking to optimize health while avoiding any adverse effects.
** Some pills, when taken with others, can have adverse health effects while other combinations are perfectly harmless. By understanding how probiotics and vitamins function, one can determine if the two should be consumed together.
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Plant Sterols And Cholesterol
This is significant because these three plant sterols actively inhibit cholesterol absorption through the intestines which often results in higher LDL-c levels. When these plant sterols are retained in the intestines they actively help prevent high cholesterol levels. But when they are released into the bloodstream, they mimic and may also convert into oxidized cholesterol-like molecules, which can damage blood vessel walls.
For years, plant fiber has been associated with reducing cholesterol. Recent research has determined that one of the characteristics of most plant fibers is that they are prebiotics they feed our intestinal probiotics. So now that we know that probiotics help reduce cholesterol, we can understand that fiber acts in two ways: It releases sterols that inhibit the absorption of cholesterol into the bloodstream and it feeds our probiotic bacteria which helps break down cholesterol within our bile.
As indicated by the increase in deconjugated bile salts, one of the mechanisms used by probiotics to reduce cholesterol appears related to the break down of bile. When bile is deconjugated, cholesterol is broken down and wasted through the feces. As the deconjugated bile is taken up by the liver again, it needs to be reconjugated with cholesterol, thereby reducing the total cholesterol availability.
Vitamin K And Blood Thinners
Some vitamins and supplements can interfere with blood-thinning blood pressure drugs, Dr. Glatter says. Vitamin Keven in foods such as kale, lettuce, broccoli, and chickpeascan counteract a blood thinners benefits. This is one of the more common food-drug reactions. Echinacea, a popular cold remedy, may decrease the effectiveness of blood thinners, and increase stroke risk, Dr. Glatter says. This is a big one to be aware of. These are some other foods you shouldnt eat with certain medications.
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Why Should You Take Coq10
Statins inhibit production of both LDL cholesterol and coenzyme CoQ10 in your liver.
Lower LDL? OK, but with serious caveats.
Lower CoQ10? A recipe for disaster.
Congestive heart failure is caused by anything that weakens the heart or makes it harder to do its job.
So hardened or plaque-clogged arteries, or a previous heart attack, or high blood pressure, diabetes, thyroid or kidney disease all can lead to CHF.
CoQ10 is produced by, required by, and used by every cell in our bodies. Its ubiquitoushence its trade name, ubiquinone.
Its primary role: instruct our mitochondria to convert nutrients into the fuel that powers everything we do.
Add to this that CoQ10 is also a powerful antioxidant. When it goes down, so does much of your immune system.
What?
From my point of view, if a doctor doesnt insist that their statin patients take supplemental CoQ10its sheer foolishness.
I tell my statin patients to take at least 200 mg of CoQ10 supplements daily, 100 mg in the morning, 100 mg at night. Importantly, CoQ10 can be taken in addition to most cardiovascular medications.
Are There Any Drugs Or Supplements With Which Live Cultures May Be Contraindicated
There are no known contraindications with medical drugs or supplements, however there are some probiotic interactions that should be considered when taking certain medications or supplements:
- If taking a probiotic alongside antibiotics you would need to take these 1-2 hours away from your medication, unless taking a probiotic supplement which is specifically formulated for taking with antibiotics. For more information on this please see our blog on taking probiotics with antibiotics. This may also be a consideration when taking a probiotic alongside other natural supplements which have an anti-microbial action.
- If you are taking anti-fungal medication or natural supplements with anti-fungal properties, then again you would need to take probiotic yeasts, such as Saccharomyces boulardii at a different time of day.
- If you are taking immunosuppressant medication, or steroid medication such as prednisone, then you should speak to your doctor before taking probiotics. See this FAQ for more information: ‘I’m severely immunosuppressed: why can’t I take probiotics?’
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Can Probiotics Lower Your Cholesterol
Probiotics are living microorganisms that, when ingested, offer many potential health benefits. People typically take probiotic supplements for the digestive and immune-boosting benefits. They can also be found in fermented drinks like kombucha or in yogurts. Research continues to show theres still much to learn about the potential applications of probiotics. One such potential lowering cholesterol.
Can probiotics really affect cholesterol?
A recent study looked closely at probiotics as a way to lower cholesterol. 127 people were recruited and split into two groups. One group received a probiotic twice daily, while the other group received a placebo. The probiotic group saw their overall cholesterol drop by 9 percent and their LDL or bad cholesterol fell almost 12 percent.
But even though some research has shown probiotics may lower cholesterol, other research has shown probiotics actually have no effect on cholesterol. So the jury may still be out on this one.
Why does high cholesterol matter?
Although there are many risk factors for coronary heart disease , high cholesterol remains a key player. In order to reduce the incidence of coronary heart disease, it is necessary to reduce the level of serum cholesterol. This can be done through medication, as well as healthy eating. However, many people prefer non-drug treatments because there are fewer negative side effects.
Should you take probiotics?
Be proactive and enjoy your healthy life!
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