Abstract
M.Tech. (Homoeopathy)
South Africa is a diverse and multi-cultured country where coronary vascular disease has
become a leading cause of mortality among all sub-cultures. According to the South African
Dyslipidaemia Guidelines Consensus Statement published in 2012 it is estimated that every day
80 people die of myocardial infarcts and 60 people die of strokes. Hypercholesterolaemia is
associated with the accumulation of atherosclerotic plaques which lead to the condensing and
restriction of vessel walls. This in turn leads to an increased risk of developing cardiovascular
disease which can present itself in the form of hypertension and coronary heart disease (Knox,
2008).
This product Vasostate™ proposes to lower total serum cholesterol levels in a variety of ways
ranging from aiding and increasing the transport of cholesterol to the liver while decreasing the
amount of cholesterol synthesised by the liver to reducing cholesterol uptake from the intestines
(Foodstate, n.d.).
The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of Vasostate™ on modifying elevated lipid
and CRP levels in males with fasting total serum cholesterol levels greater than 4.5mmol/l
utilising blood measures including Lipogram and ultra-sensitive CRP within a 12 week period.
This was a double-blind placebo controlled study conducted over a 13 week period utilising 40
male participants 30 to 55 years of age. Participants qualified for participation in the study with
two rapid total plasma cholesterol test results averaging between 4.5-6.5mmol/l and no more
than two Category 2 cardiovascular risk factors or a plasma cholesterol greater than 6.5mmol/l
with no more than one Category 2 cardiovascular risk factors in individuals who are unwilling or
unable to take conventional dyslipidaemia medicine.
Participants were divided into 2 groups of 20 each. The control group was given the placebo (an
identical form to the active in appearance), while the experimental group received Vasostate™.
In order to ensure uniform distribution of participants across both groups stratification of
participants between each group took place according to race and cigarette smoking. To
guarantee the double blinded aspect of the study the researcher was not informed which group
was the active or the placebo until the statistical results were released...