Good for your cholesterol levels

StatiQinon are capsules  containing a new formula that effectively combines the action of red yeast rice with co-enzyme Q10 and ALA (alpha-linolenic acid). ALA is an essential fatty acid that contributes to the maintenance of normal blood cholesterol concentrations*.

*min. 2 g of ALA a day

Red yeast rice is a product made of the yeast Monascus purpureus which has been cultured on rice. This process produces a strong red color. Red yeast rice contains 14 active compounds called monacolins. Red yeast rice also contains unsaturated fatty acids and phytosterols.
 

Statins are cholesterol-lowering drugs that work by inhibiting the enzyme HMG-CoA reductase. HMG-CoA plays a central role in the liver’s synthesis of cholesterol. There are many different types of statins, some with a more potent LDL-lowering effect than others.

What are natural statins?

Statins are synthetically manufactured drugs intended for lowering cholesterol. There are also naturally occurring statins. For example, the oyster mushroom naturally contains lovastatin. Lovastatin is also found naturally in red yeast rice. Randomized clinical trials have found natural statins to be both effective and well tolerated - also by individuals who do not tolerate synthetic cholesterol-lowering drugs.

How do statins work? 

Statins inhibit the enzyme HGM-CoA reductase and its ability to produce mevalonate, which is an intermediate product in the multi-step cholesterol synthesis. In what is often referred to as the mevalonate pathway, mevalonate would normally undergo a number of biochemical transformations, eventually causing it to branch into several different compounds, including cholesterol dolichol and ubiquinone. Statins effectively block this process. 

ALA is short for ”alpha-linolenic acid” and is a type of omega-3 fatty acid that is found in plants. ALA is an essential fatty acid, which means that it can't be produced by the body but must be obtained from the diet. Dietary sources of ALA include flaxseed, canola, soy, and walnuts. ALA is effective for maintaining normal cholesterol levels. Dietary ALA decreases circulating cholesterol and increases cholesterol efflux in foam cells.

Coenzyme Q10 (or just Q10) is a vitamin-like substance . It is also called ubiqinone (ubi is Latin and means ”everywhere”). Cellular energy production is achieved by the cells converting fat, carbohydrate (even alcohol), and protein into ATP (adenosine triphosphate), a molecule that stores energy in its chemical form. The cell breaks down the ATP molecule and releases the energy trapped inside. The entire process takes place inside the cells in some small bean-shaped structures called mitochondria. We have coenzyme Q10 in all our mitochondria. Muscle cells are particularly dependent on large amounts of energy, which is why muscle cells contain substantially more mitochondria than other types of cells. The heart muscle is a good example of body tissue with cells that contain a large number of mitochondria and have a correspondingly large energy requirement.

Atorvastatin decreases the coenzyme Q10 level in the blood of patients.
Ref. Arch. Neurol. 2004 Jun;61(6): 889-92.

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has evaluated the evidence behind alpha-linolenic acid and has acknowledged the following claims:

Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA):

• Contributes to the maintenance of normal blood cholesterol levels**

** The beneficial effect is obtained with a daily intake of 2 g of ALA.