High Cholesterol, Blood Pressure Linked to Early Memory Loss - AOL Health

"New research finds that high cholesterol and high blood pressure not only put patients at risk for heart disease but are also risk factors for early memory loss and other cognitive problems"

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Astragalus Shows Evidence of Improving Transport Function for Cholesterol.

We have discussed in other blogs how astragalus has been beneficial in models of CFS and in intestinal inflammation. Here is a new study that provides insights into how some of its components act on the immune system. Astragalus is used in chinese medicine. The author writes, "this extract can reduce the effects of TNF-a on the ATP transporter ABCA1 and can also attenuate inflammatory processes by NF-kappaB.

Wang, Y.-F. F., Yang, X.-F. F., Cheng, B., Mei, C.-L. L., Li, Q.-X. X., Xiao, H., Zeng, Q.-T. T., Liao, Y.-H. H., and Liu, K. (2010). Protective effect of astragalus polysaccharides on atp binding cassette transporter a1 in thp-1 derived foam cells exposed to tumor necrosis factor-alpha. Phytotherapy research : PTR, 24(3):393-398. http://www.citeulike.org/user/HEIRS/article/6749766


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Dose effects of dietary phytosterols on cholesterol metabolism: a controlled feeding study.

Dietary phytosterols in moderate and high doses favorably alter whole-body cholesterol metabolism in a dose-dependent manner. A moderate phytosterol intake (459 mg/d) can be obtained in a healthy diet without supplementation.

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Widespread Chemicals May Affect Cholesterol Levels

"A study published November 2, 2009 ahead of print in the peer-reviewed journal Environmental Health Perspectives (EHP) suggests that polyfluoroalkyl chemicals (PFCs) may affect serum cholesterol levels in people."

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Acidophilus Reduces Cholesterol Absorption Says New Study

Title: The probiotic lactobacillus acidophilus reduces cholesterol absorption through the down-regulation of niemann-pick c1-like 1 in caco-2 cells.

Summary: According to this researcher, this study underscores that probiotics may be useful in controlling cholesterol.

Citation: Huang, Y. and Zheng, Y. (2009). The probiotic lactobacillus acidophilus reduces cholesterol absorption through the down-regulation of niemann-pick c1-like 1 in caco-2 cells. The British journal of nutrition, pages 1-6. http://www.citeulike.org/user/HEIRS/article/5926674