Does Centrum Cardio Lower Cholesterol?

Wyeth Consumer Healthcare, the makers of Centrum vitamins, have recently released a new multivitamin supplement called Centrum Cardio. You can find this product at just about every retailer, pharmacy, and grocery store in the country. But should you run off to the store just yet? Read on first.

Wyeth boldly claims their vitamin can reduce cholesterol levels within four weeks of taking the supplement. First off, I think everyone would agree that multivitamins are good additions to an individuals daily health. So, we won't be argueing or exploring the benefits of a generic multivitamin. Instead, let's delve into the 'cardio' side of this vitamin and determine if and why it helps lower cholesterol levels.

Which ingredients give this vitamin the Cardio name? CoroWise phytosterols are natural and made from soybeans or corn. According to the FDA, 400mg of free phytosterols taken twice a day along with a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol may decrease the risk of heart related diseases. It is no surprise that a daily serving of Centrum Cardio (2 tablets) contains a total of 800mg of CoroWise phytosterols. Centrum Cardio also has other beneficial items like antioxidants, folic acid, and several B vitamins that all improve heart health.

Plant sterols are nothing new in the field of cholesterol research and health. Many studies have been done that prove that it has a positive impact on cholesterol absorption. Phytosterols occur naturally in all plants, but generally in amounts that are too small to produce a cholesterol-lowering effect. That is unless you think you can eat about 20 pounds of vegetables.

To be painfully simple, your body thinks that plant sterols are cholesterol and then your body will actually absorb less of the "real" cholesterol. How much of a reduction might you expect? The average performance in clinical studies has been an 8 to 15 percent drop in LDL cholesterol over the short term. Unfortunately, some studies have indicated that over the long term, cholesterol levels rise again. This could be be due to the actual absorbtion of the sterols in the body, which has been found in plaque. While the negative impact of this has yet to be determined, it certainly doesn't bode well.

Taking a product that contains CoroWise plant sterols, is one approach to natural cholesterol management. I would prefer a supplement that used plant stanols, which has the same positive effects of plant sterols, but is absorbed far less by the body. Unfortunately, plant stanols are expensive and hard to find in the US. Benecol is the only company in the US that sells a product with plant stanols, but they cut their dose in half several years ago to save money. However, the product is not trans fat free, even though it advertises it. While it is certainly unethical to advertise as zero, it is still allowed under Federal standards for levels below 1/2 gram to be considered zero. The best nutriceutical at this time is a soluble fiber like Metamucil.

The main advantage of a product like Centrum's is the combination of two supplements into one. If you are the type of person that prefers to take less tablets every day, then Centrum Cardio is a good choice. Otherwise, you should check out other products and supplements that fit your preferences better...

Also, Thanks to Mark Tyler for several updates on this product I was unaware of.

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