Study on lowering blood lipid levels with Ayurveda

Gajendra Kumar et al.

July 2013

Ayurveda medicine / treatment

Heart / Circulatory system

Overweight / obesity

Stress / Exhaustion

Elevated blood lipid levels (hyperlipidemia) often lead to coronary heart disease; available medications usually have numerous harmful side effects. Since the herbal preparation Arogyavardhini vati is successfully used in Ayurveda for liver disorders, the study was designed to investigate its effect on hyperlipidemia using tests on laboratory rats. In comparison, one group was treated with fenofibrate.

Test results showed a significant reduction in chosterol, triglycerides, LDL levels and C-reactive protein (CRP) and a significant increase in HDL in rats treated with Arogyarvardhini vati . Decreased levels of malondialdehyde (a marker of oxidative stress) and increased levels of glutathione (which defuses free radicals) were seen with both Arogyarvardhini vati and fenofibrate treatment ; the Atherogenic Index (AI, an indicator of unhealthy blood cholesterol levels) was also reduced.

The study has shown that Ayurvedicmedicines can be usedto treat elevated blood lipid levels, as they are able to reduce both oxidative stress and blood lipid levels .

The most important information on the study at a glance

Indications: Hyperlipidemia, stress
Institution: Department of Pharmacology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
Title: Study on lowering blood lipid levels with Ayurveda
Brief description: The study shows that Arogyavardhini vati lowers blood lipid levels and oxidative stress and can therefore help with hyperlipidemia.
Original title: The hypolipidemic activity of Ayurvedic medicine, Arogyavardhini vati in Triton WR-1339-induced hyperlipidemic rats: A comparison with fenofibrate
Link to the study: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24250146/