Guggulipid is made from the gum resin of the Commiphora mukul tree that grows mainly in India. These substances are known as Z-guggulsterone and E-guggulsterone. Guggulipids work by increasing our liver’s ability to metabolize LDL or “bad” cholesterol.
Guggulipids have been used for centuries in India as part of the Ayurvedic medicine tradition and have been well researched since the 1960’s for lipid disorders. Guggulipids have been shown to lower serum cholesterol and triglycerides as well as lower LDL and raise HDL. Guggulipids have been found to increase bile secretion and decrease cholesterol synthesis.
There have been many studies performed on guggulipids and cholesterol, and the results are outstanding. In most cases, cholesterol levels dropped from 14 to 27 percent in one to three months, while LDL and triglyceride levels dropped from 25 to 35 percent and 22 to 30 percent. Additionally, “good” levels of HDL usually rose by 16 to 20 percent. Overall, guggulipids were found to lower cholesterol levels just as well as prescription drugs, but without any bothersome side effects. In fact, animal studies involving guggulipids found it to be completely non-toxic.
Other studies have shown that the guggulipid is an effective hypolipidemic (lipid lowering) agent. It has also been shown to protect against atheroma formation, as well as regression of the atherosclerosis in vessels previously known to have the plaquing.
While guggulipids is a natural extract, it is very powerful, and should be treated as such. Guggulipid has shown to decrease platelet aggregation and increase fibrinolytic activity in patients with coronary artery disease.
It has also been shown in experiments to stimulate thyroid function. Guggulipids should be used with caution by persons with with hepatic disease, inflamatory bowel disease, and diarrhea.
See: TRI-CHOL
Cardiovasc Drugs Ther 1994 Aug;8(4):659-64
Hypolipidemic and antioxidant effects of Commiphora mukul as an adjunct to dietary therapy in patients with hypercholesterolemia.
Singh RB, Niaz MA, Ghosh S
Heart Research Laboratory, Medical Hospital and Research Centre, Moradabad, India.
The effects of the administration of 50 mg of guggulipid or placebo capsules twice daily for 24 weeks were compared as adjuncts to a fruit- and vegetable-enriched prudent diet in the management of 61 patients with hypercholesterolemia (31 in the guggulipid group and 30 in the placebo group) in a randomized, double-blind fashion. Guggulipid decreased the total cholesterol level by 11.7%, the low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL) by 12.5%, triglycerides by 12.0%, and the total cholesterol/high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol ratio by 11.1% from the postdiet levels, whereas the levels were unchanged in the placebo group. The HDL cholesterol level showed no changes in the two groups. The lipid peroxides, indicating oxidative stress, declined 33.3% in the guggulipid group without any decrease in the placebo group. The compliance of patients was greater than 96%. The combined effect of diet and guggulipid at 36 weeks was as great as the reported lipid-lowering effect of modern drugs. After a washout period of another 12 weeks, changes in blood lipoproteins were reversed in the guggulipid group without such changes in the placebo group. Side effects of guggulipid were headache, mild nausea, eructation, and hiccup in a few patients.
Phytother Res 2000 May;14(3):200-2
A comparative study on hypocholesterolaemic effect of allicin, whole germinated seeds of bengal gram and guggulipid of gum gugglu.
Ghorai M, Mandal SC, Pal M, Pal SP, Saha BP
Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Engineering and Technology, Jadavpur University, Calcutta – 700032, India.
The daily use of allicin and whole germinated bengal gram seeds for 8 weeks led to a significant decrease in serum cholesterol levels in normal volunteers with no side effects. The standard reference, guggulipid therapy, significantly (p < 0.001) reduced the mean serum cholesterol level to 142.88 +/- 24.14 mg/100 mL from an initial status of 211.91 +/- 6.23 mg/100mL (32.36% +/- 12.48% fall). Allicin treatment significantly reduced the mean serum cholesterol level to 129.99 +/- 2.79 mg/100 mL from a pre-treatment value of 148.10 +/- 8. 81 mg/100mL, a fall of 13.36% +/- 4.64%. The serum cholesterol value was reduced to 135.62+/- 22.85 mg/100 mL from a pre-treatment value of 157.29 +/- 4.94 mg/100mL (17.15% +/- 9.94% fall) due to daily use of whole germinated bengal gram seeds. Hence the hypocholesterolaemic effects of allicin and whole germinated bengal gram seeds are comparable to the established standard reference, guggulipid. These two materials are herbal in origin and it is supposed to have a lesser risk-benefit ratio compared with other available synthetic drugs. The inclusion of these herbal products in the normal diet may be an alternative effective measure for hypercholesterolaemia.