Can Beta-S Lower High Cholesterol?

Beta-S, a new supplement that claims to lower high cholesterol is making some pretty large claims about the subject.  The supplement is made from Beta-Sitosterol and Citrus Pectin.  The manufactures claim that these two food substances are known to reduce high cholesterol when inge

sted together.  Not only do they claim that your cholesterol will be reduced but they are claiming that this supplement helps prevent the enlargement of your prostate.  When the supplement is taken thirty minutes before a meal or snack, there are some pretty amazing claims made about its effectiveness. The claim states that Beta-S will absorb into your intestine and cause an intestinal binding of the excretion of free cholesterol.  This does not give the information if all the cholesterol stopped from excretion, nor does the information include if LDL will be targeted.  The absorption sites of the intestinal walls are supposed to be blocked.  This is suspicious because it will also block nutritional substances that your body might need. 

The supplement is also supposed to create an enzyme shift in liver function.  For being a non-prescribed supplement this may be dangerous for people that have liver problems or are taking statins to handle their cholesterol.

The supplement also reacts with the liver to increase the enzymes needed to break down fat.  This could severely alter your metabolic actions in your body and you should ask a doctor before taking this supplement. Another red flag that the maker of the Beta-S does not share is that citrus pectin was used and discredited a couple of decades ago in the Grapefruit Diet.  The diet as been proved as non-effective and there has bee no research that proved that the citrus pectin had any effects on high cholesterol levels. Beta-S does provide research involving the how and why the cholesterol will be lowered.  They inform that that Beta-S is derived from soy or rice and the citrus pectin from fruit.  Both are naturally occurring and if you added the natural ingredients to your diet, you would not have to take the supplement.  The supplement or natural materials act in unison for to symbiotic actions.  The Beta-S decreases the absorption gates of the intestines while the citrus pectin changes the enzymes in the liver to produce less cholesterol.  This process would lead to the conclusion that the fats and cholesterol that you eat would be excreted in the form of waste.

If you are currently on prescribed medications for high cholesterol levels you do not want to switch off your medications to take a supplement.  Ask your doctor first.  He may wish you to wean yourself off the medications before taking a supplement.  If you have just been diagnosed with high cholesterol, again ask your doctor if you can try to bring your levels down with natural ingredients. 

Remember that your diet and exercise is also a huge part in lowering or maintaining your cholesterol levels. If you do not know your levels, have them checked out and decide what is the best course of action is for you.  Everyone is different and there seems to be a plethora of natural cholesterol lowering supplements out there. 

Remember if not prescribed, the makers of these supplements are trying to make money.  Use your head, do the research, and ask your doctor.  You may be doing more harm than good when you choose to take natural supplements over prescribed, proven methods.