Fibrinogen's Role in Heart Disease
This entry was posted on 4/18/2006 8:23 PM and is filed under Healthy Aging.
Checking your fibrinogen level during your regular blood test is essential, according to many experts. Fibrinogen is a protein produced by the liver and it plays a role in development of atherosclerotic plaque and can contribute to acute blood clot formation, which can cause a heart attack or ischemic stroke. Reports link elevated fibrinogen levels to increased heart attack risk and stroke risk.
The standard reference range for fibrinogen is 193-423 mg/dL. But studies have shown that those with fibrinogen levels of 300 or more are at greatly increased risk for heart attack, stroke and cardiovascular disease. The ideal range for health is a fibrinogen level of 200-300 mg/dL.
Increased rates of cancer incidence are also found in those with high fibrinogen levels. Fibrinogen is the precurser to fibrin, which cancer cells use to coat themselves in order to hide from the immune system. Fibrin also is part of a signaling system to cancer cells to begin antiogenesis, the growth of new blood vessels into the tumor, which contributes to the growth and spread of the tumor.
Compounds that can help lower fibrinogen levels include: fish oil, olive oil, carotenoid complex, folic acid, B12, B6, green tea, ginkgo. There are other helpful compounds and specific herbal medicines.
from Life Extension May 2006 pp. 7-11
