Trick for Lowered Cholesterol
In my last post, I wrote about starting good habits that would help us get our healthy-weight-loss-show on the road. Today, I want to explore the possibility that using alli will be the new habit I focus on first.
alli starter kit
Like many folks who are overweight, I also have problems with high cholesterol. I’ve wondered in the past:
- since alli blocks fat digestion, and
- since fat contributes to high cholesterol,
if taking alli would produce a lowered serum cholesterol level in addition to the advertised weight loss. I took off researching my idea and discovered that apparently others have had the same idea. Turns out some studies do show that it could happen.
Here are just a few of the comments I extracted from various studies:
- “Orlistat reduces elevated total and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels, independent of the weight loss seen in overweight patients. . . . In addition to helping overweight and obese people lose weight, we now have additional confirmation that Xenical provides added cardiovascular benefits beyond that which can be achieved and maintained through diet alone.” (www.docguide.com)
- “Low-dose orlistat (60 mg) along with a reduced-calorie diet provides meaningful weight loss and improves cholesterol and blood pressure levels in overweight and obese individuals.” (www.medicalnewstoday.com)
- “Reduction of cholesterol with orlistat was significantly greater than anticipated from weight loss alone. In patients with cardiovascular risk factors entering the study with lower cholesterol values orlistat was also superior to placebo.” (www.cababstractsplus.org)
Alli and Xenical are brand names for orlistat (generic name). Alli is 60 mg. orlistat and is available over the counter. Xenical is 120 mg. orlistat and is available by prescription only. Orlistat is a drug that promotes loss of weight by preventing the digestion and absorption of fat in food. In the intestine, an enzyme called lipase (produced primarily by the pancreas) breaks apart fat in food so that it can be absorbed into the body. Orlistat blocks the action of lipase and thereby prevents the breakup and absorption of fat. Orlistat blocks absorption of about 25% of the fat in a meal. The unabsorbed fat is excreted in the stool. The FDA approved Orlistat by prescription in 1999. Alli, a lower dose formulation of orlistat, was approved for purchase without a prescription “over the counter” in 2007.
Cool. Double benefit from one new habit: weight loss and improved blood cholesterol levels.
Update: Last week I returned to the lab for blood tests, and to the doctor for a periodic check-in. I was really happy to see that my blood lipid levels were down a bit and my weight was also down a bit. No huge change was recorded, but at least things are moving in the right direction. On a side note, I also was very pleased to notice that Alli greatly reduced belly bloat. Wohoo!
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