Though anecdotal experiences might not mean much due to very individual biochemistry - these are my experiences after about 2 years on Pauling's, and for 1 year adding Dr. Davis recommendations too. Because the former in my case of a serious PAD - though improving the walking distance quite a bit - wasn't clearing it completely. The difference of my main symptom (which in my eyes is more telling than maybe/maybe not correlating cholesterol values):
* at the beginning a walking distance of only 3-400m before pain forced me to take a break,
* after one year 1-2 km ...
* now 2 hours of slow walking before the first sensations remind me of my original PAD (numbness), additionally I'm able for the first time to do short sprints again.
Too bad I've got my Lp(a) first tested only one year ago, therefore I can't know how much it already might have dropped till that date. The last year with in average 18g vit C, 6g lysine and 2.5g proline/daily it constantly dropped a few points every few months: from 57 mg/dl down to 41 mg/dl 4 months ago. This very gradual drop was surprising, since I heard individual Lp(a) test-results aren't that reliable, because they could fluctuate greatly, as with momentary stress (a factor that is often present during a doc's visit for me). However, with the most recent test my Lp(a) was back up to 50 mg/dl.
So after all not much of an improvement with Lp(a) during this whole last year..
Contributing factors which could have played some role might be other supplements I used for Lp(a) reduction, for example carnitine or guggulu. Because I heard of opposing opinions, that these two actually might contribute to worsening of thyroid functions (which in turn could have a role in raising Lp(a)). therefore I recently took a temporary break from these 2 to see. And in my most recent tests thyroid was indeed improving for the first time..
Code: Select all
2008 2009 1010
LDL 196 180 102
HDL 27 33 54
trig. 156 77 62
vitamin B3 1.5 g 3 g
vitamin D3 70 µg 200 µg
DHA/EPA 2.6 g 5.5 g
proline 1.4 g 2.6 g
lysine 4.5 g 6.5 g
vitamin C 15g 18 g
Triglycerides more likely got a lowering effect with fish-oil and sugar/wheat elimination alone. And in my case vitamin B3, D3 and other factors with beneficial effects on LDL and/or HDL have certainly compounded these results. But still, it isn't too speculative to conclude that 15g of vitamin C wasn't having a really significant effect after the first year with respect to my LDL and HDL.
Beside my Lp(a) also homocysteine isn't as low I would want it to be (..nasty niacin), but soon I'll figure this out too. Whatever.. I can even run again!
Cobraman wrote: Would like to stop taking the niacin if possible since it makes me feel tired most of the day.
One way to get certain about this would be taking niacin vacations and see how your lipids react. An other way I could think of, especially since niacin might raise liver enzymes with the slo-release forms especially if taken more often than once a day, and since immediate release niacin seems even more effective when not taken that regularly, the best way to avoid your tiredness could be taking the whole day's dose with the last big meal of the day, and after that profit from a healthy sleep on top of it. Of course, you probably know you would have to get used to such high single doses because of the flush, or take a baby aspirin for reducing it.