Peter of Hyperlipid mentioned this stuff back in July 2007 but it didn't get much attention back then, so I am resurrecting it. It's another "Great Idea" that turned out to be absolute crock.
Inhibiting the enzyme that converts A into B results in less of B but more of A. This also applies to something called Cholesterol Ester Transport Protein (CETP) that transports esterified cholesterol (acid + alcohol = ester + water & cholesterol is technically an alcohol) from the tiny HDL discs to the much larger LDL & relatively huge VLDL particles. To see what HDL, LDL, VLDL & chylomicrons look like, see Large LDL and small HDL particles: The best combination.
Inhibiting CETP with Torcetrapib reduces LDL and increases HDL which sounds absolutely wonderful. Unfortunately, what has actually happened is that the cholesterol reverse transport pathway has been buggered-about with. Not surprisingly, this results in increased mortality. To see how cholesterol transport pathways work, see Figure 3 in Effect of Torcetrapib on the Progression of Coronary Atherosclerosis. See also Effect of Torcetrapib on Carotid Atherosclerosis in Familial Hypercholesterolemia.
If you want to raise your HDL, be more active and eat more monounsaturated fats, also fish oils and/or take high-dose extended-release niacin. Don't bugger-about with your cholesterol reverse transport pathway!
Tuesday, 13 April 2010
Monday, 5 April 2010
Black Pepper is pretty Hot Stuff.
Black Pepper contains a substance called Piperine that gives the hot sensation. It just so happens that Piperine increases the bio-availability of several important substances.
1) Curcumin: This substance has many health benefits, an important one being the slowing, halting or even reversing of amyloid plaque formation in the brain, as mentioned in Look after your brain. See Influence of piperine on the pharmacokinetics of curcumin in animals and human volunteers.
2) Beta-carotene: See Piperine, an alkaloid derived from black pepper increases serum response of beta-carotene during 14-days of oral beta-carotene supplementation.
3) Coenzyme Q10: See Piperine derived from black pepper increases the plasma levels of coenzyme q10 following oral supplementation.
Capsaicin, the hot stuff in chilli peppers is also quite useful.
1) Curcumin: This substance has many health benefits, an important one being the slowing, halting or even reversing of amyloid plaque formation in the brain, as mentioned in Look after your brain. See Influence of piperine on the pharmacokinetics of curcumin in animals and human volunteers.
2) Beta-carotene: See Piperine, an alkaloid derived from black pepper increases serum response of beta-carotene during 14-days of oral beta-carotene supplementation.
3) Coenzyme Q10: See Piperine derived from black pepper increases the plasma levels of coenzyme q10 following oral supplementation.
Capsaicin, the hot stuff in chilli peppers is also quite useful.
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