Cholesterol-Lowering Drugs

Hongbao Ma, Ph.D.

Department of Medicine, Michigan State University

East Lansing, Michigan, USA

Abstract

Cholesterol plays a major role in human heart health and high cholesterol is a leading risk factor for human cardiovascular disease such as coronary heart disease and stroke. There are 102.3 million American adults who have total blood cholesterol values of 200 mg/dl and higher, and about 41.3 million. Cholesterol can be good (high-density lipoprotein) or bad (low-density lipoprotein) to the cardiovascular system. For the total cholesterol in blood: less than 200 mg/dl is desirable level, 200 to 239 mg/dl is the borderline high for heart disease, and 240 mg/dl and above is High blood cholesterol. A person with this level of 240 mg/dl or above has more than twice the risk of heart disease as someone whose cholesterol is below 200 mg/dl. Statin drugs are very effective for lowering LDL cholesterol levels and have few immediate short-term side effects. Some bacteria can change cholesterol in food to coprostanol that cannot be readily absorbed by the body and some oral bacteria such as Lactobacillus acidophilus have been commercial available for the cholesterol lowering.

Key Words: cardiovascular, cholesterol, health, heart, lipoprotein

There are a variety of medications available for lowering blood cholesterol levels. They may be prescribed individually or in combination with other drugs. Some of the common types of cholesterol-lowering drugs include statins, resins and nicotinic acid (niacin), gemfibrozil, and clofibrate.

1. Clofibrate (Atromid-S). This drug raises the HDL cholesterol levels and lowers triglyceride levels.

2. Gemfibrozil (Lopid). This drug lowers blood fats and raises HDL cholesterol levels.

3. Nicotinic Acid. This drug works in the liver by affecting the production of blood fats. It's used to lower triglycerides, lower LDL cholesterol and raise HDL cholesterol.

4. Resins. Resins are also called bile acid-binding drugs. They work in the intestines by promoting increased disposal of cholesterol. There are three kinds of medications in this class: Cholestryamine (Questran, Prevalite, Lo-Cholest),
Colestipol (Colestid), Coleseveiam (WelChol).

5. Statins. Statin drugs are very effective for lowering LDL cholesterol levels and have few immediate short-term side effects. They work by interrupting the formation of cholesterol from the circulating blood. Commonly prescribed statins include: Atorvastatin (Lipitor), Cerivastatin (Baycol), Fluvastatin (Lescol), Lovastatin (Mevacor), Pravastatin (Pravachol), Simvastatin (Zocor).