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Beta-glucan to lower cholesterol

Posted , 3 users are following.

jude65855
jude65855

Does anyone have any experience of this substance to lower cholesterol "naturally"?   I'm looking at an ad for a product which makes all sorts of claims, but neither the ad nor the website cite any research, although they do refer to untitled "scientific studies".  It ccomes in 24g sachets to dissolve in water or milk and each sachet is supposed to be equal to 3 bowls of oatmeal porridge.:  

Anyone heard of it or tried it and then had their cholesterol levels checked?

I'll call them tomorrow if I get time (it's 9 pm in Eastern Australia) and ask a few pointed questions, including the possibility of negative effects from lowering cholesterol too much, as they claim it's as effective as "drugs", presumably statins.

0 likes, 5 replies

5 Replies

  • sueisobel
    sueisobel jude65855

    Posted

    Go for it, though I doubt they will say anything negative about their own product
    • mrbob84
      mrbob84 sueisobel

      Posted

      Right, I have heard that once you view the claims of the manfacturer, you should promptly to to some other, more neutral site and verify them independently.  Before plunking down your hard-earned cash, of course... :-)
    • jude65855
      jude65855 mrbob84

      Posted

      Exactly, also do what I"ve done here, ask if anyone has personal knowledge of its effectiveness or not
    • jude65855
      jude65855 sueisobel

      Posted

      Ha Ha not expecting them to do that!   They've spent a lot of money on a full page glossy ad on the back of a very popular Australian magazine and I want them to back up their claims with research details so I can check it out for myself.  If they can't or won't I'll be reporting them to the Health Dept for false advertising, but probably the statin manufacturers will get there before me.   At least their claims for statin effectiveness ARE backed up by research, it's the negative side effects which are the problem not lack of effectiveness.

      A similar thing happened here after an investigative TV show debunking statins:  a well known vitamin company did full window displays in pharmacies about the effectiveness of their cholesterol lowering something-or-other:  there were no research studies at all to back up their claims and it vanished back on to the shelves soon .after.    Anyone who thinks the "alternative medicine" scene has any more scruples than "Big Pharma" is living in a fool's paradise:  most "natural supplements" are in fact produced by multinational pharmaceutical companies having it both ways:  read the labels, people and google before you hand over your cash to any of these people

  • jude65855
    jude65855

    Posted

    OK, I called these Beta Heart people in Sydney and my apologies, the website did have research studies - damn these cataracts, I totally missed it.   There are 4 studies which I haven't had time to read yet and suggest anyone interested google it themselves and make up their own  minds.

    They're sending me a free sample, sounds very similar to the psyillium I already take except they say with far stronger cholesterol reducing effects and only lowering to "bad" cholesterol.    It does seem worth pursuing and I'll update this forum.    I'm thinking of having another cholesterol test so I can be re-tested 3 months later & check the resuits all the "natural" grain based high fibre products seem to need that long to take effect.;

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