In animal studies, a new class of cholesterol-lowering drugs called SCAP ligands appears to be more potent and acts differently and perhaps more effectively than statins.

High blood levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL), or "bad" cholesterol, greatly increase the risk of heart disease and stroke, and cholesterol-lowering drugs such as statins are sometimes prescribed to lower cholesterol and reduce this risk.

SCAP ligands reduce cholesterol and triglycerides by up to 80% in hamsters, which process cholesterol similarly to humans. Statin drugs have been found to reduce LDL cholesterol by only 60% and triglycerides by 30% in humans.

According to the investigators, both statins and SCAP ligands increase the number of LDL receptors, which "mop up" cholesterol from the blood; the more LDL receptors, the lower the cholesterol level.

Statins and SCAP ligands appear to work differently. Statins indirectly increase the number of LDL receptors by blocking the body's cholesterol production; this in turn raises the number of LDL receptors. In contrast, SCAP ligands directly increase the number of LDL receptors without first blocking cholesterol production.

Because of their "direct" action, SCAP ligands cause a potent and sustained reduction of both LDL cholesterol and triglycerides.

The safety of these compounds will need to be carefully evaluated.

Nature Medicine December 2001;7:1282-1284, 1332-1338

Dr. Mercola's Comments:

If you still are under the deceptive media spread from the drug companies and believe that statins are the best thing since sliced bread (and the more bread you eat, the more statins you will need), then you need to read the articles on my statin index page. I really don't see the need for additional cholesterol lowering agents. Despite the fact that the new cholesterol guidelines suggest that up to 50% of the US population should be on these drugs. The current drugs work just fine for the few people who actually do seem to need them. Even if this new class of drugs works, there is no guarantee that it will be any less toxic than the current group of statins. Many will remember that earlier this summer Bayer had to pull Baycol from the market as it caused a number of deaths. Hey, wait a minute, I thought people were supposed to take these drugs to prevent death, not cause it. Just doesn't make sense to me, but if you choose to take a pill to solve the underlying reason as to why your body is making too much cholesterol, than well over 95% of the time you will be making a choice that will promote disease rather than promote your health.