Hardly any docs test for lipoprotein (a). Yet this is a huge genetic marker of a higher risk of potential nasty heart events like stroke and heart attack.
I tested mine, it was sky-high. (I battle a lot of bad genetic deal of the cards, yet, so far… so good, from my lips to God’s ears).
No one had ever tested mine before I started to read up on all this. Of course, then I started to sleuth what could bring lipoprotein (a) down to healthier levels.
Guess what healthfully lowers lipoprotein (a)?
Flaxseeds.
Hormone replacement.
Estrogen in ladies.
Testosterone in gents.
Elevated levels of lipoprotein (a) [Lp(a)] are an independent risk factor for premature cardiovascular disease (CVD). This means more risk of stroke or a heart attack.
You have heard of really healthy folks suddenly falling over dead from a shocking heart attack? What might have been their silent hidden issue, is elevated lipoprotein (a) silently lurking in the back of their physiology that nobody had picked up on.
This test costs under $20 and most docs do not test for this.
Flaxseed
Flaxseed (Linum usitiatissimum L.) is a rich source of alpha-linolenic acid, phytoestrogens, and lignans and has been shown to improve several cardiovascular risk factors including lipoprotein (a).
Of 48 randomized controlled trials, 6 were eligible for inclusion, and the results suggested a significant decrease in plasma Lp(a) following supplementation with flaxseed-containing products.
Conclusions:
This finding highlights the potential clinical significance of flaxseed supplementation for patients who are at risk of a high residual CVD despite intensive statin therapy, patients with hyperlipoproteinemia (a), and patients who prefer natural remedies for CVD prevention in the context of a healthy lifestyle.
Estrogen Therapies
The Department of Medicine, at the University of California, and the Veterans Affairs Medical Center, San Francisco, USA. looked at 2763 postmenopausal women younger than 80 years with coronary artery disease and an intact uterus. The mean age was 66.7 years.
Participants were randomly assigned to receive either conjugated equine estrogens, 0.625 mg, plus medroxyprogesterone acetate, 2.5 mg, in 1 tablet daily (n = 1380), or an identical placebo (n = 1383).
Lipoprotein(a) levels and CHD events (nonfatal myocardial infarction and CHD death).
Increased baseline Lp(a) levels were associated with subsequent CHD events (heart attack and stroke) among women in the placebo arm.
Treatment with estrogen and progestin reduced mean (SD) Lp(a) levels significantly.
The data suggests that Lp(a) is an independent risk factor for recurrent CHD in postmenopausal women and that treatment with estrogen and progestin lowers Lp(a) levels. (I do not recommend “progestins”, synthetic versions os progesterone, as much as natural or bioidentical progesterone, as significant adverse issues reported in multiple studies are often due to these synthetic versions).
Testosterone and Lipoprotein (a) in Males
The Division of Cardiology, The University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, administered testosterone, with or without the aromatase inhibitor testolactone, to determine the effects of testosterone and its aromatization to estradiol on Lp(a) levels in normal men.
Average Lp (a) values decreased by 37% during testosterone alone and by 28% when testosterone and testolactone were combined, suggesting that testosterone reduces Lp(a) in men primarily by an androgenic effect and not by its conversion to estradiol.
Knowledge is power.
Lipoprotein (a) drives bad heart events, like heart attack and stroke.
Lipoprotein (a) is significantly reduced by flaxseeds and estrogen therapy in ladies and testosterone therapy in gents.
Not too many know this.
But now you do.
Here is a quick video from my kitchen,
Request your free copy of my Flaxseed Recipe book here.
Dr. B.
References:
Flaxseed Supplementation Reduces Plasma Lipoprotein(a) Levels: A Meta-Analysis. Altern Ther Health Med. 2021 May;27(3):50-53. PMID: 31634874.
Estrogen and progestin, lipoprotein(a), and the risk of recurrent coronary heart disease events after menopause. JAMA. 2000 Apr 12;283(14):1845-52. doi: 10.1001/jama.283.14.1845. PMID: 10770146.
Testosterone decreases lipoprotein(a) in men. Am J Cardiol. 1996 Jun 1;77(14):1244-7. doi: 10.1016/s0002-9149(96)00174-9. PMID: 8651107.
Love this! I have fortunately tested my Lp(a) since my late 30's - however, I have had to ask for my doc to test it each time which I do annually. I love your flaxseed muffins and have your flax cereal on a regular basis as well. Thanks for all your great insights and articles! Maureen
An article I read in “The People’s Pharmacy” (a) states that statin drugs can actually raise the level of lipoprotein (a).