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Cholesterol Support-
Guggul
Servings Per Container: 60 vegetarian capsules 500 mg. each
Indications:
Guggul is a well known Ayurvedic herb which normailizes lipid metabolism,
regulates cholesterol and triglyceride levels. In addition, it assists
in helping the body burn excess fat. It does this safely, effectively,
and without the serious side effects that often accompany western
drugs.
Contraindications:
To date, no side effects have been reported with Guggul.
Ingredients:
Standardized Extracts of Commiphora Mukul (Guggul) Standardized
to contain 25mg of Guggulsterones type E & Z
Suggested use:
One capsule two times daily or as directed by your physician
60 vegetarian capsules 500 mg each
Clinical Studies
Cholesterol - Baylor College of Medicine in Houston
found that the guggulsterone, the active ingredient in the Guggul
extract, blocks the activity of a receptor in the liver's cells
called Farnesoid X Receptor (FXR). Later, Dr. David Mangelsdorf
at University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas confirmed
that the guggul blocked the receptor and affected how cholesterol
is metabolized.
Cholesterol/ Atherosclerosis - A double-blind placebo-controlled
study of guggul for reducing cholesterol studied 61 individuals
for 24 weeks. After following a healthy diet for 12 weeks the participants
were divided into two groups with half of the participants receiving
placebo and the other half receiving guggul (100 mg of guggulsterones
daily). At 24 weeks the results showed that the treated group had
a 11.7% decrease in total cholesterol. Those on guggul also had
a 12.7% decrease in LDL ("bad" cholesterol), a 12% decrease
in triglycerides, and an 11.1% decrease in the total cholesterol
ratio.
Cholesterol/ Atherosclerosis - 40 heart disease patients participated
in a 16-week study were given twice daily divided doses of 4.5 grams
of guggul lipid. They experienced a 21.75 percent decrease in blood
fats (including LDL, VLDL, and triglycerides) and a 35 percent increase
in "good cholesterol". Guggul lipid also reduced platelet
stickiness.
Cholesterol - Another study conducted at Kerala University in India
established that "guggul given to laboratory animals reduced
their blood lipid levels quickly and effectively without side effects".
They found that improved liver enzyme activity was one of the ways
Guggul reduced the blood cholesterol. Kerala Univ., Indian J. Exp.
Biol. 33, 1995
Cholesterol/ Atherosclerosis - This study of 228 patients showed
similar results from guggul as were obtained from the standard drug
clofibrate.
Impotence - South Carolina scientists conducted a study of more
than 3,200 healthy men between the ages of 25 and 83. The men with
total cholesterol over 240 mg/dl had close to double the risk of
penile dysfunction as men with readings of 180 mg/dl. Also those
with HDL readings of 60 mg/dl or greater were less likely to develop
penile dysfunction than the men with less than 30 mg/dl HDL.
Obesity - In one double-blind study - a combination of guggul, phosphate
salts, hydroxycitrate, and tyrosine (along with healthy exercise)
improved the mood of overweight patients with a slight tendency
to improve weight loss. However, there appeared to be no effect
on thyroid gland function in the people studied.
Diabetes - Some treatment value for diabetes was noted in one rodent
study. However, more research is needed in this area.
Acne - In a 1994 study at the Department of Dermatology, in Bajaj
Nagar, Jaipur, India, 20 patients with nodulocystic acne were randomly
given either 500mg of Tetracycline or doses of gugulipid with 25mg
guggulsterone. Both groups produced a progressive reduction in lesions.
Those on tetracycline showed a 65.2% reduction compaired with a
68% reduction with the gugulipid. The three-month follow-up showed
relapses in 4 cases of tetracycline and 2 cases of the gugulipid
patients.
Future Studies - The Southern California University of Health Sciences
(SCUHS) in Whittier, Calif., USA, started a study on the Usefulness
of guggul (Commiphora mukul) for osteoarthritis of the knee in March
of 2001.
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