Sytrinol 150 mg. 60 caps.

A newly available, all-natural supplement has been shown in human studies to significantly lower cholesterol levels—particularly of LDL, triglycerides, and apolipoprotein B—thus helping to reduce the risk of developing cardiovascular disease. This supplement, called Sytrinol™, is an important option for health-conscious people seeking a safe, effective, and convenient way to lower cholesterol levels without the side effects and expense of drugs. It is a patented proprietary formula containing citrus and palm fruit extract.

Reducing serum cholesterol levels—especially low-density lipoprotein (LDL)—is an effective, well-established strategy for preventing cardiovascular disease and reducing coronary events and mortality.

Concerned with the persistent failure of conventional strategies to significantly improve cholesterol profiles and reduce the incidence of cardiovascular disease, a broad coalition of medical researchers and scientists is now calling for a massive increase in the use of cholesterol-lowering drugs, particularly the family of pharmaceuticals known as statins.

Unfortunately, the statin drugs, while very effective, also have side effects that understandably compromise patient compliance.

Cholesterol and Human Health
Cholesterol is a fatty (lipid) component found in virtually all cell membranes. In addition to supporting cellular integrity, cholesterol is also required for the transport of phospholipids and the biosynthesis of mineralocorticoids (aldosterone), glucocorticoids (cortisol), and sex hormones (progesterone, pregnenolone, testosterone, and estradiol). Far from endangering health, cholesterol is essential to life. In fact, Italian researchers have shown that when serum cholesterol levels are too low (less than 160 mg/dL), mortality in older adults actually increases.

LDL, popularly known as “bad cholesterol,” is the primary transporter of cholesterol in the blood. In atherosclerosis, LDL is taken up in lesions in endothelial cells lining the inner walls of blood vessels, forming deposits in the arterial walls. The deposited LDL undergoes modification, as free radicals oxidize LDL to form foam cells that create a thick, hard plaque.

Over time, plaque accumulation can constrict vessels, inhibiting blood flow and reducing the supply of oxygen reaching the heart, brain, and other organs. If a clot (thrombus) blocks an artery already restricted by plaque, blood and oxygen flow can be cut off entirely, leading to a heart attack (if the occlusion occurs in the heart) or a stroke (if it occurs in the brain).

HDL is commonly referred to as “good” cholesterol because it helps remove excess cholesterol from atherosclerotic deposits and retard the growth of new plaque. Low HDL levels have been shown to be an additional risk factor for increased mortality from coronary artery disease and strokes in the elderly.

Not All LDL Is Created Equal
To bind with other molecules for transport through the circulatory system, lipids rely on a specialized class of structural proteins, called apoproteins. LDL exists in two versions, differentiated by their protein components. The first, apolipoprotein A, consists of a large, “fluffy” protein called apoprotein A that is cardioprotective when bound to LDL. The second, apolipoprotein B, consists of a small, dense protein called apoprotein B that plays a major role in cardiovascular disease when bound to LDL. Apolipoprotein-B particles enable cholesterol to penetrate and lodge in vascular walls, an important step in initiating the formation of atherosclerotic plaque.¹Apo-lipoprotein B is the predominant form of apolipoprotein, and over 90% of all LDL cholesterol particles in the blood carry apolipoprotein B, making it an especially accurate (and convenient) marker for measuring the cholesterol-depositing capacity of blood.^2-4

The importance of apolipoprotein B was highlighted in a report published in 2001 in the British medical journal The Lancet. In the AMORIS study, researchers evaluated cardiovascular markers in over 175,000 men and women over a period of five and a half years. In addition to conventional lipid markers, such as triglycerides, total cholesterol, and LDL:HDL ratios, the researchers also measured apolipoprotein-B levels. Their findings revealed that those with the highest ratios of apolipoprotein B to apolipoprotein A were at the greatest risk of dying from a heart attack.⁵

These findings were supported by a second study, published in 2003 in the journal Circulation. In the IRAS study, researchers again measured apolipoprotein-B levels in 1,522 individuals and compared them with an array of standard lipid markers (such as C-reactive protein, fibrinogen, and carotid artery intima-media thickness) to assess cardiovascular disease risks. They found that elevated apolipoprotein-B levels were strongly associated with cardiovascular disease, and concluded that apolipoprotein-B levels are a better predictor of vascular risk than are LDL levels.20

Statin Drugs: Pros and Cons

Statin drugs such as atorvastatin (Lipitor®), lovastatin (Mevacor®), pravastatin (Pravachol®), and simvastatin (Zocor®) are among the most potent lipid-lowering agents currently available. The rate-limiting enzyme HMG-CoA (3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A) reductase controls the biosynthesis of cholesterol in the liver. Statins lower cholesterol levels by inhibiting the production of HMG-CoA reductase, resulting in a decrease in cholesterol synthesis in the liver. To compensate for the resulting reduction of cholesterol production, the liver begins to remove LDL circulating in the blood, further reducing overall LDL levels.

Benefits of Statin Drug Therapy:

improvements in lipid profile
improved endothelial function (blood vessel health)
decreased platelet thrombus formation
improved fibrinolytic activity
reduced frequency of transient myocardial ischemia.

Problems of Statin Drug Therapy:

Reduction in Coenzyme Q10 production
Increase in cardiac distress
Rhabdomyolysis, a rare but potentially deadly condition that occurs when large numbers of skeletal muscle cells die

An analysis of the Food and Drug Administration’s side-effect registry, conducted in 2001 by the consumer watchdog group Public Citizen, discovered that statin drugs were linked to 72 fatal and 772 non-fatal cases of rhabdomyolysis between October 1997 and December 2000. In August 2001, pharmaceutical giant Bayer AG was forced to remove its statin drug Baycol® (cerivastatin) from the market after it was found to be responsible for killing at least 31 people.⁶

Healthy Options for Lowering Cholesterol

One of the newest and most effective alternatives to statin drugs is a patented, proprietary formula comprising citrus and palm fruit extracts that contain polymethoxylated flavones and tocotrienols. It has been shown in human trials to significantly reduce total cholesterol, LDL, and triglycerides. Additionally, the powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of the extracts in this natural formulation (trademarked under the name Sytrinol^TM) are known to contribute to managing additional cardiovascular disease risk factors.

The health benefits of Sytrinol™ have been demonstrated in in-vitro, in-vivo, and human clinical studies. Animal toxicity studies have shown that Sytrinol™ is well tolerated, with no toxic effects following consumption of polymethoxylated flavones in amounts of up to 1% of total dietary intake, or the equivalent of a 150-pound individual consuming almost 14 grams per day.

The cholesterol-lowering effects of Sytrinol™ were documented in a recent animal study published in the May 2004 issue of the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. Canadian researchers first induced high blood levels of cholesterol in hamsters. The animals were then treated with either polymethoxylated flavonoids (tangeretin) or a combination of flavones (hesperidin and naringin). While the flavones were shown to lower cholesterol levels, the tangeretin formulation proved to be almost three times as effective. In hamsters receiving the tangeretin formula, total cholesterol declined by up to 27% and LDL was reduced by 40%. While HDL levels were unchanged, the net result was a significant improvement in the LDL:HDL ratio.⁷

The cardioprotective and cholesterol-lowering claims for Sytrinol™ are also supported by human studies. Two early trials, each using 10 subjects, measured the effects of Sytrinol™ in men and women diagnosed with hyper-cholesterolemia and screened to eliminate thyroid disorders, kidney disorders, and diabetes. Subjects were instructed to maintain normal dietary habits and discontinue using vitamins, supplements, and cholesterol-lowering medications for at least six weeks before and during the study. Fasting blood samples were drawn at the onset and at the end of each four-week trial, and plasma lipid profiles and other metabolic parameters were analyzed using standard methods.

The results from the first trial show that four weeks of treatment with 300 mg of Sytrinol™ daily significantly reduced levels of total cholesterol (-25%), LDL (-19%), and triglycerides (-24%). HDL levels were unchanged and body mass remained relatively stable.

In the second trial, subjects with elevated cholesterol again benefited after only four weeks of treatment with 300 mg per day of Sytrinol™.

Treatment with Sytrinol™

Substantially cut levels of plasma total cholesterol (-20%),
Reduced LDL (-22%), apolipoprotein B (-21%)
Reduced triglycerides (-28%)

Additionally, subjects in the second trial benefited from a significant 5% increase in apolipoprotein A1, an important structural protein of HDL.

Sytrinol™ is currently being tested in a long-term, double-blind, crossover randomized study involving 120 men and women with moderately elevated cholesterol levels (total cholesterol above 230 mg/dL and LDL greater than 155 mg/dL). For 12 weeks, subjects will receive either 300 mg per day of Sytrinol™ or placebo, followed by a washout period of four weeks and another 12 weeks during which the groups receiving the active compound or placebo will be crossed over.

Only the first 12 weeks (phase 1) of the long-term study have been completed, yet already the results are compelling. As shown in Table 3, compared to placebo, the Sytrinol™ subjects saw reductions of 30% in total cholesterol, 27% in LDL, and 34% in total triglycerides. In addition, HDL levels increased 4%, resulting in a significant 29% reduction in the LDL:HDL ratio.

Twenty-five years of documented research went into the making of Sytrinol™, a formula derived from citrus and palm fruit extracts to form a powerful antioxidant with numerous heart health benefits while possessing anti-inflammatory properties. Sytrinol™ contains polymethoxylated flavones, shown in studies to help maintain healthy levels of apoprotein B (a structural protein needed for endogenous synthesis of LDL cholesterol) and decrease diacylglycerol acetyl transferase (a liver enzyme needed for endogenous synthesis of triglycerides).

Supplement Facts
Servings Size:
Servings Per Container: 60
Amount Per Serving:
Sytrinol^TM (a proprietary blend of citrus polymethoxylated flavones and palm tocotrienols)	150 mg
Other ingredients: gelatin, purified water, natural orange flavor, titanium dioxide, chlorophylline, ribovlavin colorant (for imprint).

Sytrinol™ is a registered trademark of Source One Global.

Dosage and Use

Take one capsule twice daily, with or without a meal, or as directed by your health care professional.

Caution

Should only be taken by people with high cholesterol levels. Do not take if it causes your cholesterol to drop below 180 mg/dL.

Warnings

Keep out of reach of children.
Do not exceed recommended dose.
If you have a bad reaction to this product, discontinue use.
When using nutritional supplements, please inform your physician if you are undergoing treatment for a medical condition or if you are pregnant or lactating.

References

1. Gustafsson, M, Flood C, Jirholt P, Boren J. Retention of atherogenic lipoproteins in atherogenesis. Cell Mol Life Sci. 2004 Jan; 61 (1): 4-9.

2. Cabezas Castro M, Liem A. The use of apolipoprotein B in clinical practice to determine the risk for atherosclerosis. Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd. 2003 Jul 26; 147 (30):1445-8.

3. Walldius G, Jungerner I. Apolipoproteins are new and better risk indicators of myocardial infarction. Lakartidningen. 2004 Mar 25; 101 (13): 1188-94.

4. Walldius G, Jungner I. Apolipoprotein B and apolipoprotein A-I: risk indicators of coronary heart disease and targets for lipid-modifying therapy. J Intern Med. 2004 Feb;255(2):188-205.

5. Walldius G, Jungner I, Holm I, Aastveit AH, Kolar W, Steiner E. High apolipoprotein B, Low apolipoprotein A-I, and improvement in the prediction of fatal myocardial infarction (AMORIS study): a prospective study. Lancet. 2001 Dec15;358(9298):2026-33.

6. Bayer voluntarily withdraws Baycol. FDA Talk Papers T01-34. August 8, 2001.

7. Kurowska EM, Manthey JA. Hypolipidemic effects and absorption of citrus polymethoxylated flavones in hamsters with diet-induced hypercholesterolemia. J Agric Food Chem. 2005 May 19;52(10):2879-86.

Warning: These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Please consult with a healthcare professional before starting any diet or exercise program. Some of these products are not recommended for individuals under the age of 18.

This page was last modified on Monday December 10, 2007