Decreasing the Amount of Cholesterol Manufactured by the Liver Naturally

Cholesterol can be brought to its proper levels using several different approaches. That's because cholesterol has many functions in the body. Every function involves its own biochemical reactions, and each one of those is, in principle, a target for intervention.

The most common approach that's used to lower cholesterol is called "HMG-CoA reductase inhibition" or in other words, decreasing the about of cholesterol manufactured by the liver. This is the approach that statin drugs use.

Manufacturing Cholesterol

Cholesterol is synthesized from small building blocks in the body using a long chain of biochemical reactions. In total, more than 20 steps are used to construct the cholesterol molecule. Glucose (sugar) or palmitate (a fatty acid) can be used as the source molecule that is used to generate cholesterol. Every individual building step of the molecule is mediated by enzymes. These are large protein molecules that serve to facilitate the biochemical steps.

If you compare the cholesterol synthesis process to an automobile factory line, the workers and robots are the enzymes that bring the different building blocks together. Since the construction line is a linear process, if only one worker is not working, or working slow, the whole line slows down in speed. This is the idea behind HMG-CoA reductase inhibition.

Inhibiting the HMG-CoA Reductase Enzyme

HMG-CoA reductase is one of the enzymes involved in cholesterol synthesis. This abbreviation stands for 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl CoEnzyme A reductase. This enzyme converts HMG-CoA to mevalonate which is one of the steps in the production chain. This enzyme can be inhibited (slowed down) by many components. The most well-known of these are the statin molecules, such as atorvastatin (Lipitor), lovastatin (Mevacor), simvastatin (Zocor) and other similar drugs.

These molecules can slow down this enzyme by binding to it. This binding results in a structural change of the enzyme so that it is no longer active in the production chain. Disabling enough of this enzyme throughout the body will reduce the total amount of cholesterol produced.

Policosanol Inhibits HMG-CoA Reductase Naturally

This same enzyme inhibition is used by the third mechanism in Bios Life. Similar to statin molecules, a specific phytonutrient called policosanol from sugarcane has been shown to inhibit this enzyme.

Scientists have spent years in establishing the cholesterol lowering properties of the policosanol molecule. This molecule is actually a mixture of a couple of different alcohol molecules. Their structure is unique in the sense that they also interfere with the effectiveness of HMG-CoA reductase. It is in fact a natural statin, and like a statin drug, it is also highly effective.

The Effectiveness of Policosanol

Many studies have been performed with this molecule in dosages comparable to statin dosages, from 5 mg to 40 mg per day. LDL is typically reduced in the range of 20 - 25% in a 12 week period. But, unlike statin drugs, it is effective without producing any side effects.

Why, if policosanol works identical to statins, does it not cause the same side effects as statins? Side effects are not caused by the positive results that the statins have on the enzyme, but rather from the aftereffects the statin molecules have on other body tissues. Consequently the liver has to clean up the statin molecules once they have finished their job to minimize these consequences. Policosanol apparently does not produce these side effects.

Policosanol Goes to Work in the Third Mechanism of Bios Life

Bios Life contains 12 mg of pure policosanol. The Third Mechanism of Bios Life does not rely on taking the product close to a meal. It is known that Bios Life is best taken before the meal, since the first and second mechanism work best before the meal. The policosanol works throughout the day, since cholesterol synthesis goes on 24 hours a day. Therefore, if Bios Life is not taken before the meal, it can still be taken after or at any time during the day. (Still, taking Bios Life before a meal maximizes its effect).

As a side benefit, policosanol has other beneficial effects for the cardiovascular system. Research has shown that it also reduces LDL-oxidation, and platelet aggregation.

LDL can be oxidized by free radicals, and this leads to an even greater build up of atherosclerosis. Slowing this down obviously has an extra benefit on top of the mere lowering of LDL.

Platelet aggregation is the process that may lead to blood clots that can reduce the blood flow in the body. Policosanol will keep the blood fluid and reduce clotting.