Taking medication can lower your cholesterol, but there's always a risk of side effects. Cholesterol-lowering medication many times causes muscle pains and other problems. However, vitamin C is considered a natural way to lower cholesterol, but you need to be careful how you take it to avoid a negative interaction.
What Is Cholesterol?
Not all cholesterol is bad. Understanding which is which can help you make better lifestyle choices. Cholesterol is a waxy substance found in blood lipids. It helps form cell membranes and some hormones. Cholesterol cannot dissolve in the blood. Lipoproteins have to transport cholesterol. Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol tends to clog arteries, while high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol is an effective transporter of cholesterol. In blood tests, both types of cholesterol are measured individually and added together. Your doctor likely won't be concerned if your HDL is high, only if the LDL is.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is known to have many beneficial effects on the body. Relating to cholesterol, vitamin C keeps lipids in the blood from become plaque. The ascorbate in the vitamin keeps lipoproteins from oxidizing, which is how LDL cholesterol becomes plaque. It also increases your HDL cholesterol.
Statins
Doctors will prescribe statins to lower a patient's cholesterol. There are a number of brand names for these statins, including Lipitor (atorvastatin), Zocor (simvastatin), Mevacor (lovastatin) and Pravachol (pravastatin). Statin drugs inhibit acetyl-CoA production, which in turn inhibits the production of cholesterol. However, ubiquinone and dilochol are produced through the same process as cholesterol, so statins inhibit their production as well. Ubiquinone is a cellular nutrient used in the mitochondria. It is the body's main respiratory enzyme and is used in the heart and other organs. Dolichol aids in protein manufacturing.
Interaction
One possible negative interaction between statins and vitamin C doesn't actually involve vitamin C, but one of the natural, rich sources of the vitamin--grapefruit. According to MayoClinic.com, "chemicals in grapefruit juice and grapefruit pulp interfere with the enzymes that break down (metabolize) various drugs in the digestive system." This may keep the drug in your blood and increase the chance of side effects. Pomelos and Seville oranges may also do the same thing.
Consult Your Physician
If you use , pomelos or Seville oranges regularly, you may want to talk to your doctor about the possible interaction. Waiting to take medication after consuming these fruits won't avoid the interaction.
Tags: grapefruit juice, lipoprotein cholesterol, negative interaction, Seville oranges, side effects, vitamin keeps