NUTRACEUTICALS: A BETTER ALTERNATIVE TO STATINS IN THE FIGHT AGAINST ATHEROSCLEROSIS - A REVIEW

Atherosclerosis: A major cause of death in todayes world- is an inflammatory disease resulting from high plasma concentrations of cholesterol, especially that of Low - density lipoprotein (LDL). It leads to formation of lipid laden plaques which later blocks coronary arteries leading to heart attacks. Current medications used for the treatment and prevention are statins. However, statins have dangerous neuronal side effects. Traditional System of medicine in India- Ayurveda lists medicines which also serve as food in our daily lives, hence the name Nutraceuticals: The knowledge of these Nutraceuticals is currently being integrated into therapeutic regimen, considering the serious side effects of allopathic drugs. Medicinal plants have wide range of anti-atherosclerotic compounds many of which are as yet unexplored. Many of these plants have even shown reversal of atherosclerotic plaques. The present review provides a comparison of the action of Nutraceuticals with statins and shows how statins could one day be replaced with Nutraceuticals as the major therapy for atherosclerosis.