Can I take Cardiol and Meaquor if I am undergoing drug therapy with statins, anticoagulants, beta-blockers and similar?
Dear Maura,
Cardiol is a product formulated to improve cardiovascular health.
The formulation contains red yeast rice, whose active ingredient is monacolin K, a natural statin similar to lovastatin. Due to the presence of this natural statin, the use of Cardiol is not recommended during pharmacological treatment with statins. Cardiol is also contraindicated in case of known hypersensitivity to any of its components.
For the sake of completeness, I report a warning included in the product leaflet: "In presence of cardiovascular diseases and/or hypertension, consult a doctor before taking the product." This is a mandatory statement according to the Ministry of Health regulations for all supplements containing an extract of Citrus aurantium L..
The extract of Citrus aurantium L. may contain synephrine, a substance with cardiotonic activity. What we use in Cardiol is a purified extract of the fruit (not the peel, which is known to be rich in synephrine) standardized in bioflavonoids (tangeretin and nobiletin) with well-known lipid-lowering properties. The dose at which synephrine may cause increased blood pressure is 30 milligrams; Cardiol contains only trace amounts of 0.015 milligrams. I also point out that among our supplements there is another product useful for the treatment of dyslipidemia, Eulipid.
Eulipid can be used in case of statin treatment, as the active ingredients it contains work synergistically with statins by enhancing the hepatic uptake of circulating LDL cholesterol. Eulipid also provides a proper dose of antioxidants essential for the protection of the cardiovascular system and other tissues from damage caused by oxidative stress, one of the main causes of cellular deterioration. The recommended dose is 1 tablet per day, preferably in the evening before dinner.
Meaquor is an extremely concentrated and purified source of polyunsaturated Omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA (from fish oil purified by multiple molecular distillation). Thanks to its high Omega-3 content, Meaquor can be a useful adjunct both for controlling blood triglycerides and for the prevention of cardiovascular diseases.
The product has no contraindications except in cases of known hypersensitivity to any of its components. The recommended dose is 1 capsule per day, to be taken just before a main meal. In case of severe hypertriglyceridemia, on the advice of your doctor, this dose can be increased up to 3 capsules per day.
I hope I have answered your questions thoroughly and invite you to contact us again for any further clarification.
Best regards,
Dr. Rosaria Ramondino Pharmacist and Pharmaceutical Chemist
