Squalene
August, 2005
by Chris Masterjohn
Statins
Inhibit Squalene Synthesis
Statins (Lipitor, Mevacor, Zocor, etc) do not only inhibit the synthesis
of cholesterol. Since squalene is a precursor to cholesterol, and
statins cut off cholesterol synthesis prior to the formation of squalene,
statins therefore inhibit the synthesis of squalene.
As
is true for coenzyme Q10, this cannot be considered a "side effect."
Inhibiting squalene, a cholesterol precursor, is the direct purpose
of the statin drugs.
Yet
squalene is much more than a precursor to cholesterol. In fact, only 10%
of synthesized squalene is used for cholesterol synthesis. The other 90%
is stored or used as an antioxidant.
Squalene as an Antioxidant
Squalene accumulates at the greatest concentrations in the skin, where
it appears to play a vital role in quenching free radical oxygen (oxygen
singlets), preventing the harmful effects of lipid peroxidation.
Adequate concentrations of squalene in the skin prevent oxidative damage
from ultraviolet light.
Squalene also appears to play a similar role in the retina, where it is
known to play some kind of important function.
Squalene for Detoxification
Administration of squalene at high doses induces the detoxification and
elimination of toxic pollutants such as organochlorines, theophylline,
and strychnine in animals. The doses used are very high, and it is as
yet unclear what the implications of this are for human health.
Squalene as an Anti-Cancer Agent
A
significant body of evidence indicates that reasonable doses of
supplemental squalene prevents the chemical initiation of some kinds of
cancers, and promotes the regression of some kinds of preexisting
tumors.
One
animal study found that a 1% squalene diet reduced a certain type of
colon cancer foci by 46%. Another study found that squalene as 2% of the
diet made animals resistant to the toxic effects of whole-body gamma
radiation.1
Squalene in Food
While the oils of olive, palm, wheat-germ, amaranth, and rice bran
contain some squalene, none match the squalene content of shark liver
oil, after (the latin name of) which squalene is named.
Shark liver oil, like cod liver oil, contains the same benefits as cod
liver oil, such as vitamins A and D, and omega-3 fatty acids, but its
high squalene content as well as its alkoxylglycerol content make it an
even more prized supplement to a healthy diet.
Many
people find that shark liver oil boosts their immune system and
increases the health of their skin, and some researchers suggest it has
cancer-preventative properties because of its high squalene content.
Squalene also does wonders for the skin topically, although shark liver
oil is not practical to use for this because of its fishy smell. Some
companies have isolated the squalene from shark liver oil to use
topically.
Squalene: Another Hero, Fallen Victim
Squalene's benefits as an antioxidant and anti-cancer agent make it yet
one more hero of the healthful body fallen victim to the use of statins.
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