Aa
Statin drugs
I have battled high cholesterol for most of my adult life and am now at 170 (total) with the aid of a statin drug. I have seen some reports that say that even though statins reduce cholesterol numbers there isn't the expected correlation with reduced incidence of heart disease. Is that true? And if so, why should I continue taking a statins and risk liver damage?
COMMUNITY LEADER
This question comes up a lot. There is a definite connection between cholesterol levels and increased risk of heart disease, that is a proven fact. If you like, send me a PM and I'll forward a link that shows the results of most of the major studies that outlines the connection. The more LDL, the more risk to develop blockages. What most critics of statins point to is a absolute risk reduction (ARR) of approx 1% in those on a statin. This number comes from the JUPITER trial which was stopped early due to the extremely good results in order to get Crestor on the market sooner which resulted in an understated ARR. The actual number ranges from 25% to 65%, depending on the statin, with a relative risk reduction (RRR) of 36% to 42%. This represents the actual reduction in the risk of heart disease when using a statin, so your risk of developing heart disease is cut by up to 42% when using a statin.
Statins have also been shown to be much safer for the liver than originally thought. In fact, they are now used to treat liver disease as patients with damaged livers have shown increased liver function on statins. So much so that the FDA is considering removing liver damage from the list of side effects. You have a greater chance of liver damage by taking Acetaminophen than you do from a statin.
Thanks for asking, I hope this helps.
Jon
Statins have also been shown to be much safer for the liver than originally thought. In fact, they are now used to treat liver disease as patients with damaged livers have shown increased liver function on statins. So much so that the FDA is considering removing liver damage from the list of side effects. You have a greater chance of liver damage by taking Acetaminophen than you do from a statin.
Thanks for asking, I hope this helps.
Jon
I worried about the same thing years ago when statin drugs were developed, and refused to take them. It was amazing how quickly I embraced them when I had a couple heart attacks! I've taken them for twelve years, and get periodic blood tests, liver function is great. I worry more about the wine than the statins! I'd procede with confidence, take the pills.
Are you at risk for heart disease e.g. hereditary, diabetic, smoker already had a heart event? If yes, take them, if no I'll quote an article I've read:
"While statins certainly are lifesaving for those with high cholesterol or established heart disease, their benefits are more modest for those at fairly low risk of heart disease: About 0.72 percent of the statin takers in the trial had a heart attack or stroke compared with 1.5 percent of those taking placebos."
This is from the JUPITER study.
"While statins certainly are lifesaving for those with high cholesterol or established heart disease, their benefits are more modest for those at fairly low risk of heart disease: About 0.72 percent of the statin takers in the trial had a heart attack or stroke compared with 1.5 percent of those taking placebos."
This is from the JUPITER study.
There’s also some evidence that statins can sap a patient’s vitality by binding testosterone and estrogen. Cholesterol is involved in the synthesis of steroids and thus the production of these hormones. If you start taking a statin and your libido takes a vacation, ask your doctor to test your hormone levels.
Statins also decrease the body’s supply of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), which helps make the heart strong. This can be eliminated with the addition of over-the counter supplement of coenzyme Q10 (200 mg to 400 mg daily).
There is evidence, mostly anecdotal in nature, that statins can cause memory loss and even amnesia, as well as other cognitive defects such as difficulty concentrating.
Why get off statins? These medications do not supply something the body needs. Instead, they prevent the body from producing too much of a substance that it does need, cholesterol, which plays an important role in cell function.
Get a copy of The China Study, a long-term review of disease and cholesterol in that country, and you’ll see that large populations in the world exist where heart disease is virtually unknown.
7 Steps that will give you the best chance of living statin free.
Start with your doctor. Review your desire to get off statins Without changing
the way you live there’s no solid reason to get off your statin medication.
Get serious about food. Part of this plan must be eating a plant-based diet.
Depending on your particular profile, I
suggest either the Dean Ornish heart-reversal diet or the South Beach Diet. If you have known heart disease, the Ornish diet is better because it most effectively cleanses the system of excess fat. The South Beach Diet is usually for those with risk factors but no known heart disease. This diet allows more latitude and can still get a person to the recommended targets.
Lose weight for good, maintain your ideal body weight.
One way to judge your ideal body weight is via body mass index (BMI) It should be under 25 Many health clubs have simple handheld devices that provide a BMI reading.
Get moving on a daily basis. You need to start exercising five days a week for one hour
per day. I recommend the PEAK 8 routine google it you only do this 3 x per week at 20 minutes each time the other days you can just walk at least 10,000 steps per day you can buy a pedometer.
You must get plenty of sleep Not just eight hours a night, but eight to 10 hours on a regular basis. Sleep is the body’s main way of dealing with stress. lack of sleep results in the liver pumping out excess cholesterol!
it’s important to take additional measures to reduce stress. Practice meditation!
Remember, there are only two ways to reduce your cholesterol: Stop the production of cholesterol in your liver, or stop its absorption in the small intestine.
supplements in your diet can help reduce cholesterol, but most people have to be at
their targets, eating right, and exercising before supplements can help them stay there.
One supplement works through the liver just like a statin because it is a statin, a natural
one. Mevastatin is produced naturally by red rice yeast. a good brand is Nature's Plus Herbal Actives Red Yeast Rice Extended Release 600 mg.
Omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil and vitamin B3 (niacin), remain the champions of the
supplements. Both fish oil and niacin boost HDL, plump up LDL particles, and reduce inflammation I suggest Krill Oil Just look that it has total Phospholipids 420, total MG per serving 300, at least 160 mg EPA and 90 mg DHA and 1 1/2 mg of Astaxanthin. you could have to take 2 pills to get the total mentioned above even if the bottle says to take 1 per day.
Organic grape juice, apples, and other foods that contain pectin help eliminate cholesterol
through the gut. Garlic has a mild effect as well. A glass of red wine a day, because it contains resveratrol, an antioxidant, also helps maintain heart health.
If you try this speak to your doctor first.
Statins also decrease the body’s supply of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), which helps make the heart strong. This can be eliminated with the addition of over-the counter supplement of coenzyme Q10 (200 mg to 400 mg daily).
There is evidence, mostly anecdotal in nature, that statins can cause memory loss and even amnesia, as well as other cognitive defects such as difficulty concentrating.
Why get off statins? These medications do not supply something the body needs. Instead, they prevent the body from producing too much of a substance that it does need, cholesterol, which plays an important role in cell function.
Get a copy of The China Study, a long-term review of disease and cholesterol in that country, and you’ll see that large populations in the world exist where heart disease is virtually unknown.
7 Steps that will give you the best chance of living statin free.
Start with your doctor. Review your desire to get off statins Without changing
the way you live there’s no solid reason to get off your statin medication.
Get serious about food. Part of this plan must be eating a plant-based diet.
Depending on your particular profile, I
suggest either the Dean Ornish heart-reversal diet or the South Beach Diet. If you have known heart disease, the Ornish diet is better because it most effectively cleanses the system of excess fat. The South Beach Diet is usually for those with risk factors but no known heart disease. This diet allows more latitude and can still get a person to the recommended targets.
Lose weight for good, maintain your ideal body weight.
One way to judge your ideal body weight is via body mass index (BMI) It should be under 25 Many health clubs have simple handheld devices that provide a BMI reading.
Get moving on a daily basis. You need to start exercising five days a week for one hour
per day. I recommend the PEAK 8 routine google it you only do this 3 x per week at 20 minutes each time the other days you can just walk at least 10,000 steps per day you can buy a pedometer.
You must get plenty of sleep Not just eight hours a night, but eight to 10 hours on a regular basis. Sleep is the body’s main way of dealing with stress. lack of sleep results in the liver pumping out excess cholesterol!
it’s important to take additional measures to reduce stress. Practice meditation!
Remember, there are only two ways to reduce your cholesterol: Stop the production of cholesterol in your liver, or stop its absorption in the small intestine.
supplements in your diet can help reduce cholesterol, but most people have to be at
their targets, eating right, and exercising before supplements can help them stay there.
One supplement works through the liver just like a statin because it is a statin, a natural
one. Mevastatin is produced naturally by red rice yeast. a good brand is Nature's Plus Herbal Actives Red Yeast Rice Extended Release 600 mg.
Omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil and vitamin B3 (niacin), remain the champions of the
supplements. Both fish oil and niacin boost HDL, plump up LDL particles, and reduce inflammation I suggest Krill Oil Just look that it has total Phospholipids 420, total MG per serving 300, at least 160 mg EPA and 90 mg DHA and 1 1/2 mg of Astaxanthin. you could have to take 2 pills to get the total mentioned above even if the bottle says to take 1 per day.
Organic grape juice, apples, and other foods that contain pectin help eliminate cholesterol
through the gut. Garlic has a mild effect as well. A glass of red wine a day, because it contains resveratrol, an antioxidant, also helps maintain heart health.
If you try this speak to your doctor first.
Your cholesterol level seems good, and as long as your blood tests show no problems, I'm betting you will do well to continue to take statins.
COMMUNITY LEADER
There will always be discussion concerning the use of statins. It is a simple fact that patients with high cholesterol levels benefit from the use of a statin as they are very effective at lowering LDL or bad cholesterol. The key is for your doctor to prescribe you at a dose that meets your goals and does not deplete your body of the amount of cholesterol you need. Red Rice Yeast is never recommended by a doctor because as a supplement, it is not controlled by the FDA and the actual dosage of the naturally occurring statin is not consistent from pill to pill, you are much better off with a statin product in which the manufacturing and testing has been reviewed and approved by the FDA.
I can quote study for study, link for link on this subject, I have the JUPITER trial saved on my hard drive and have read it many times. It is true, the largest benefit is with those with high cholesterol and multiple risk factors, all of which your doctor would have considered when he weighed the risk to the benefit for you as an individual and prescribed your meds.
I think you'll do great,
Jon
I can quote study for study, link for link on this subject, I have the JUPITER trial saved on my hard drive and have read it many times. It is true, the largest benefit is with those with high cholesterol and multiple risk factors, all of which your doctor would have considered when he weighed the risk to the benefit for you as an individual and prescribed your meds.
I think you'll do great,
Jon
I disagree with you about the FDA, My son is the principal scientist with a major pharmaceutical Co. The information I've been told about various drugs and or implants approved by them is something else!! As for supplements many doctors subscribe various
supplements from vitamins to herbs. Consumer lab tests and publishes those that fail or are accepted for use.
supplements from vitamins to herbs. Consumer lab tests and publishes those that fail or are accepted for use.
COMMUNITY LEADER
As I recall, we have discussed the FDA and your son's experiences before, it was very interesting. I'm only going by what I've read and the discussion with the doctors I volunteer with. I also have read the FDA warning concerning supplements, not all things are equal.
Consumer Labs may run tests on some supplements, but there is a vast difference between a Consumer Labs test and a multi-year NIH managed drug trial with tens of thousands of participants tracked for years after the trial is over to validate the findings.
However, I can understand that some things may slip through the loop holes in the system, but I think the odds are better when they are controlled by the FDA.
Jon
Consumer Labs may run tests on some supplements, but there is a vast difference between a Consumer Labs test and a multi-year NIH managed drug trial with tens of thousands of participants tracked for years after the trial is over to validate the findings.
However, I can understand that some things may slip through the loop holes in the system, but I think the odds are better when they are controlled by the FDA.
Jon
I credit statins for keeping me alive the last twelve years, but I've mixed in exercise, diet, weight loss and lifestyle changes at the same time. My blood tests have been perfect, and I pay extra to outside my insurance coverage to test for vitamins, etc. A balance seems prudent.
What pharma does your son work for?
What pharma does your son work for?
I would rather not mention the Co. I will tell you he has worked with the FDA on various
investigations with products.
One study showed that people who had higher levels of bacteria in their mouth were
more likely to have plaque buildup (atherosclerosis) in the carotid artery.
This bacteria is thought to enter the bloodstream through the gums and adhere to the plaques in the arteries, contributing to the narrowing of the arteries.
Another theory is that the presence of the bacteria triggers inflammation, which is the body’s response to foreign substances, that can cause illness.
This inflammation and swelling could also contribute to the narrowing of vessels and possibly cause blood clots to form in the arteries.
The No. 1 source of inflammation in the body is a bad diet. That explains why hardening of the arteries has become an epidemic only in the last 100 years:
Exercise helps keep arteries elastic Like I mentioned in an earlier try the peak 8 routine
I f you give me a list of vitamins and or supplements i will let you know the ones that are approved and the ones that failed and why they failed.
investigations with products.
One study showed that people who had higher levels of bacteria in their mouth were
more likely to have plaque buildup (atherosclerosis) in the carotid artery.
This bacteria is thought to enter the bloodstream through the gums and adhere to the plaques in the arteries, contributing to the narrowing of the arteries.
Another theory is that the presence of the bacteria triggers inflammation, which is the body’s response to foreign substances, that can cause illness.
This inflammation and swelling could also contribute to the narrowing of vessels and possibly cause blood clots to form in the arteries.
The No. 1 source of inflammation in the body is a bad diet. That explains why hardening of the arteries has become an epidemic only in the last 100 years:
Exercise helps keep arteries elastic Like I mentioned in an earlier try the peak 8 routine
I f you give me a list of vitamins and or supplements i will let you know the ones that are approved and the ones that failed and why they failed.
COMMUNITY LEADER
Actually, the statement;
"That explains why hardening of the arteries has become an epidemic only in the last 100 years"
Is not completely accurate. The reason that heart disease is so prevalent in the past 100 years is because it was not an accepted cause of death until 1920 and was rarely used until the 1930s. The reason for such a dramatic increase over the past 100 years has been proven to be more of a result of accurate reporting. The rules for reporting and ranking causes of death were developed by the NCHS (National Center for Health Statistics) around 1950. These standards were revised in 1967 and again in 1979 to the standards being used today. Prior to that, causes of death were reported based on each physician's discretion and heart disease was rarely used until well into the 1930s. It was not until the introduction of the above listed standards that causes of death were correctly reported and ranked based on one singular set of rules. This is when heart disease saw it's largest increases year over year. It is most likely true that heart disease was just as prevalent in 1900 as it is today, it just was not reported as it is today.
Just another thought on the increase over the past 100 years. Also, have you considered airborne irritants as a cause for inflammation in the body? We are all affected by the quality of the air we breathe. Just a thought.
"That explains why hardening of the arteries has become an epidemic only in the last 100 years"
Is not completely accurate. The reason that heart disease is so prevalent in the past 100 years is because it was not an accepted cause of death until 1920 and was rarely used until the 1930s. The reason for such a dramatic increase over the past 100 years has been proven to be more of a result of accurate reporting. The rules for reporting and ranking causes of death were developed by the NCHS (National Center for Health Statistics) around 1950. These standards were revised in 1967 and again in 1979 to the standards being used today. Prior to that, causes of death were reported based on each physician's discretion and heart disease was rarely used until well into the 1930s. It was not until the introduction of the above listed standards that causes of death were correctly reported and ranked based on one singular set of rules. This is when heart disease saw it's largest increases year over year. It is most likely true that heart disease was just as prevalent in 1900 as it is today, it just was not reported as it is today.
Just another thought on the increase over the past 100 years. Also, have you considered airborne irritants as a cause for inflammation in the body? We are all affected by the quality of the air we breathe. Just a thought.
inflammation sometimes starts as early as childhood. And they always run their course slowly, silently, and steadily with inflammation as the key.
In fact, name just about any disease, and you can bet that inflammation is a part of the
picture. Heart disease, arthritis, Alzheimer’s, asthma, or osteoporosis—all of these
conditions can be traced back to inflammation.
The pill pushers behind Big Pharma know this well their entire business is built on it.
If we learned one thing from the Vioxx scandal, it’s that prescription anti-inflammatories kill and a whole lot faster than the diseases I just mentioned, too.
Your immune system is a complex array of cells that work to protect your body
from invaders viruses, bacteria, allergens, and toxins, to name a few. Inflammation is
what happens when this system springs into action.
inflammation doesn’t ravage your body without leaving a few clues. And knowing your levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) can give you a fair warning as to what kind of trouble it could be causing.
Your body makes CRP in response to many different kinds of inflammation—and
elevated CRPs are associated with increased risk of a variety of serious conditions
including heart disease, diabetes, and dementia.
there’s an excellent blood test called the highly sensitive CReactive
protein test (hcCRP).your level should be less than 1.0. Levels
between 1.0 and 3.0 are termed borderline But anything above this range can mean trouble, and should always be followed by a recheck in one to three months.
to prevent inflammation start with diet. And the Mediterranean standard is the best one to keep. anti-inflammatory supplements, adding some omega-3 fatty acids especially in the form of (EPA), a key anti-inflammatory fat. I suggest 2,000 mg of EPA per day. Probiotics (healthy gut bacteria found in fermented foods like yogurt, kefir, and sauerkraut) can also help. tumeric (which is found in curry), ginger, and rosemary. Resveratrol (found in grape skins and red wine) is also a powerful anti-inflammatory and one that is especially helpful in protecting against cancer.
anti-inflammatory vitamins , vitamin D (at least 1,000 to 2,000 units a day)
may be the most important although you clearly need adequate amounts of vitamins A,
C, and E along with the minerals zinc, magnesium, potassium, and selenium.
Exercise is another proven in-flammation-reducer, partly as a result of its fat-burning
effect, fat cells increase inflammation. You should get 30 to 45 minutes of
vigorous exercise (the kind where you really work up a sweat) at least five days a week—
with some strength training also fit in for at least two of those days. And make sure you
get a professional to help you devise a routine and to show you good exercise form just
slopping around on your own is a surefire way to get injured!
physical and emotional stress is a large, essential piece of the antiinflammation
puzzle which means not only cutting down the stress in your
environment, but also learning how to cope with it better . Good nutrition
and exercise can both help this, as can a wide variety of mind-body techniques, including
meditation, deep-breathing exercises,
In fact, name just about any disease, and you can bet that inflammation is a part of the
picture. Heart disease, arthritis, Alzheimer’s, asthma, or osteoporosis—all of these
conditions can be traced back to inflammation.
The pill pushers behind Big Pharma know this well their entire business is built on it.
If we learned one thing from the Vioxx scandal, it’s that prescription anti-inflammatories kill and a whole lot faster than the diseases I just mentioned, too.
Your immune system is a complex array of cells that work to protect your body
from invaders viruses, bacteria, allergens, and toxins, to name a few. Inflammation is
what happens when this system springs into action.
inflammation doesn’t ravage your body without leaving a few clues. And knowing your levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) can give you a fair warning as to what kind of trouble it could be causing.
Your body makes CRP in response to many different kinds of inflammation—and
elevated CRPs are associated with increased risk of a variety of serious conditions
including heart disease, diabetes, and dementia.
there’s an excellent blood test called the highly sensitive CReactive
protein test (hcCRP).your level should be less than 1.0. Levels
between 1.0 and 3.0 are termed borderline But anything above this range can mean trouble, and should always be followed by a recheck in one to three months.
to prevent inflammation start with diet. And the Mediterranean standard is the best one to keep. anti-inflammatory supplements, adding some omega-3 fatty acids especially in the form of (EPA), a key anti-inflammatory fat. I suggest 2,000 mg of EPA per day. Probiotics (healthy gut bacteria found in fermented foods like yogurt, kefir, and sauerkraut) can also help. tumeric (which is found in curry), ginger, and rosemary. Resveratrol (found in grape skins and red wine) is also a powerful anti-inflammatory and one that is especially helpful in protecting against cancer.
anti-inflammatory vitamins , vitamin D (at least 1,000 to 2,000 units a day)
may be the most important although you clearly need adequate amounts of vitamins A,
C, and E along with the minerals zinc, magnesium, potassium, and selenium.
Exercise is another proven in-flammation-reducer, partly as a result of its fat-burning
effect, fat cells increase inflammation. You should get 30 to 45 minutes of
vigorous exercise (the kind where you really work up a sweat) at least five days a week—
with some strength training also fit in for at least two of those days. And make sure you
get a professional to help you devise a routine and to show you good exercise form just
slopping around on your own is a surefire way to get injured!
physical and emotional stress is a large, essential piece of the antiinflammation
puzzle which means not only cutting down the stress in your
environment, but also learning how to cope with it better . Good nutrition
and exercise can both help this, as can a wide variety of mind-body techniques, including
meditation, deep-breathing exercises,
This is good information. Thank you all. I think I have much to discuss with my my GP and Cardiologist at my next appointments.
I was especially interest to see that statins have been linked to hormonal imbalances. At my last annual physical my GP found that I had low testosterone levels and wanted to immediately start HRT. Knowing that it was a huge step, I've been resisting. Now I have some additional information and maybe HRT is not the answer.
Thanks again to all. Please keep up the discussion. It never hurts to have more information and viewpoints.
I was especially interest to see that statins have been linked to hormonal imbalances. At my last annual physical my GP found that I had low testosterone levels and wanted to immediately start HRT. Knowing that it was a huge step, I've been resisting. Now I have some additional information and maybe HRT is not the answer.
Thanks again to all. Please keep up the discussion. It never hurts to have more information and viewpoints.
Yes, please do keep up this discussion. It's all very interesting.
As a heart patient, I'm trying to learn everything I can. My mother and sister are also heart patients. Kind of strange that my cholesterol was more than good, but my mom and sister had very high cholesterol when we had our heart attacks. It makes me wonder what the numbers should be.
I've heard about dental problems and heart disease. What studies have been done on that subject?
My sister also has RA. We all know that causes inflammation of the joints. What studies have been done on that and heart disease?
As a heart patient, I'm trying to learn everything I can. My mother and sister are also heart patients. Kind of strange that my cholesterol was more than good, but my mom and sister had very high cholesterol when we had our heart attacks. It makes me wonder what the numbers should be.
I've heard about dental problems and heart disease. What studies have been done on that subject?
My sister also has RA. We all know that causes inflammation of the joints. What studies have been done on that and heart disease?
Poor dental health has been linked to body-wide inflammation and to an increased risk of heart attack, stroke or diabetes. Plaque build-up along the gum lines causes gingivitis, creating a home for bacteria to thrive in. This will cause gum-tissue breakdown, allowing bacteria to pass into the bloodstream where they cause inflammation. I suggest a mandatory daily flossing, a full two-minute brushing with a soft toothbrush, a 30-second gargle with a plaque rinse, and a thorough cleaning performed by a dental hygienist at least two times per year. a homemade helper: Work a paste of baking soda and hydrogen peroxide into your gum lines with a rubber-tipped gum stimulator. Rinse with warm salt water from a Water-Pik. Do this daily, or at least three times per week. And if your gums are bleeding, take 100 to 200 mg of coenzyme Q10 daily, which will speed the healing.
Two studies on RA and Perio Dental
http://www.perio.org/consumer/mbc.heart.htm
http://www.arthritis.org/ra-heart-disease.php
http://www.perio.org/consumer/mbc.heart.htm
http://www.arthritis.org/ra-heart-disease.php
I'm one of the statistics, I have heart disease after having a long battle in trying to manage my cholesterol. I didn't take statins regularly and their you have it, honestly although I am just one data point, the risk of liver damage is low in comparison to putting your loved ones at worry...
Nice post, rsarah99, you really summed up what a lot of us feel who battled heart disease. I rejected statins early on, deciding to control it with diet and 'natural' products. That bit of ignorance on my part led to eight stents, two heart attacks and a pacemaker, finally bypass surgery. I'm healthier than most of my contemporaries, and we are all old men, thanks to great drugs, procedures, diet and exercise.
gu99, I'd shop at the wonderful Saturday Market in your city regularly, exercise, take the good pharmas. We celebrated an important anniversary (50) at the Governor Hotel in Portland last weekend with several dozen friends and family.
gu99, I'd shop at the wonderful Saturday Market in your city regularly, exercise, take the good pharmas. We celebrated an important anniversary (50) at the Governor Hotel in Portland last weekend with several dozen friends and family.
Serum cholesterol is elevated by the body to protect itself from various acids and toxins. Heavy metals, fungal mycotoxins and trans fatty acids (trans fats) are toxins which will cause a rise in the serum cholesterol. Thyroid hormone is necessary for the healthy metabolism of cholesterol so hypothyroidism (most common cause is Hashimoto's Thyroiditis) is also a common cause.
High cholesterol is caused by the following:
Poor diet (eg: inflammatory transfats/too much inflammatory omega 6)
Genetic - but this is VERY rare (< 1% of cases)
Untreated/poorly treated hypothyroidism
Toxins and acids (eg: mercury/metabolic acidosis)
Chronic systemic fungal infections
Studies on statin drugs show:
No reductions in death in people over the age of 65
No reduction in death in people with no existing heart disease
No benefit at all in women of any age
Men under the age of 65 with pre existing heart disease: 100 have to take a statin for 3 years to prevent 1 heart attack. *
* "It is very important to understand statistics here and the difference between relative risk and absolute risk reduction. Much of the advertising with statins describe a 36% risk reduction in heart attacks. This is a relative risk reduction.
The absolute risk reduction is a decrease from a 3% risk to a 2% risk. In practical terms, this means that in men under the age of 65 with pre-existing heart disease, 100 (the NNT- Number Needed to Treat) have to take a statin for 3 years to prevent 1 heart attack. The other 99 men receive no benefit.
Professor James Wright from the University of British Columbia states that “most people taking statins are taking something with no chance of benefit and a risk of harm.”
Interestingly, the small reductions in death in men under 65 with pre-existing heart disease was independent of cholesterol reduction and was almost certainly due to their anti-inflammatory effects (there are safer ways to get this effect)."
Statin drugs deplete Coenzyme Q10 levels. Low levels of CoQ10 are implicated in virtually all cardiovascular diseases including angina, hypertension, cardiomyopathy and congestive heart failure. Other side effects including nausea, headaches, dizziness, sleep disturbances, sexual dysfunction, fatigue, shortness of breath, memory loss, liver problems, muscle weakness, muscle pain, peripheral neuropathy (nerve damage).
High cholesterol is caused by the following:
Poor diet (eg: inflammatory transfats/too much inflammatory omega 6)
Genetic - but this is VERY rare (< 1% of cases)
Untreated/poorly treated hypothyroidism
Toxins and acids (eg: mercury/metabolic acidosis)
Chronic systemic fungal infections
Studies on statin drugs show:
No reductions in death in people over the age of 65
No reduction in death in people with no existing heart disease
No benefit at all in women of any age
Men under the age of 65 with pre existing heart disease: 100 have to take a statin for 3 years to prevent 1 heart attack. *
* "It is very important to understand statistics here and the difference between relative risk and absolute risk reduction. Much of the advertising with statins describe a 36% risk reduction in heart attacks. This is a relative risk reduction.
The absolute risk reduction is a decrease from a 3% risk to a 2% risk. In practical terms, this means that in men under the age of 65 with pre-existing heart disease, 100 (the NNT- Number Needed to Treat) have to take a statin for 3 years to prevent 1 heart attack. The other 99 men receive no benefit.
Professor James Wright from the University of British Columbia states that “most people taking statins are taking something with no chance of benefit and a risk of harm.”
Interestingly, the small reductions in death in men under 65 with pre-existing heart disease was independent of cholesterol reduction and was almost certainly due to their anti-inflammatory effects (there are safer ways to get this effect)."
Statin drugs deplete Coenzyme Q10 levels. Low levels of CoQ10 are implicated in virtually all cardiovascular diseases including angina, hypertension, cardiomyopathy and congestive heart failure. Other side effects including nausea, headaches, dizziness, sleep disturbances, sexual dysfunction, fatigue, shortness of breath, memory loss, liver problems, muscle weakness, muscle pain, peripheral neuropathy (nerve damage).
COMMUNITY LEADER
Your analysis of the NNT is a bit misleading. You are quoting the NNT from JUPITER which was stopped early due to positive results and because of that, the NNT is grossly understated. Had the Jupiter study run it's intended length, the NNT would have been 25. Also, every statin has a different NNT, they are not all the same. Here is one example from the AHA;
>>>Some LDL-C–lowering clinical end-point studies achieved a low NNT per year such as the Scandinavian Simvastatin Survival Study (SSSS), which achieved an NNT of 11.7 and an NNT per year of 2.2.<<>>However, the 6 clinical end-point LDL-C–lowering statin studies (Table 2) achieved an average NNT of 41.0 and an average NNT per year of 8.5, reflecting an overall less efficient therapeutic approach. Three recent trials have compared 1 statin brand or dose against another.18,24,25 In these “statin versus statin” trials, the average NNT was 64.6, and the average NNT per year was 19.1. Arteriographic LDL-C–lowering statin studies achieved an average NNT of 64.3 and an average NNT per year of 28.7. <<<
Here's the link, it has all the NNT's listed;
http://circ.ahajournals.org/content/117/4/560.full
Also, these are the actual numbers from JUPITER;
http://circoutcomes.ahajournals.org/content/2/3/279.full
>>>Some LDL-C–lowering clinical end-point studies achieved a low NNT per year such as the Scandinavian Simvastatin Survival Study (SSSS), which achieved an NNT of 11.7 and an NNT per year of 2.2.<<>>However, the 6 clinical end-point LDL-C–lowering statin studies (Table 2) achieved an average NNT of 41.0 and an average NNT per year of 8.5, reflecting an overall less efficient therapeutic approach. Three recent trials have compared 1 statin brand or dose against another.18,24,25 In these “statin versus statin” trials, the average NNT was 64.6, and the average NNT per year was 19.1. Arteriographic LDL-C–lowering statin studies achieved an average NNT of 64.3 and an average NNT per year of 28.7. <<<
Here's the link, it has all the NNT's listed;
http://circ.ahajournals.org/content/117/4/560.full
Also, these are the actual numbers from JUPITER;
http://circoutcomes.ahajournals.org/content/2/3/279.full
"You are quoting the NNT from JUPITER which was stopped early due to positive results and because of that, the NNT is grossly understated .."
My interpretation as to why the JUPITER Study was stopped early is a bit different. There is a graph as part of the study that shows "Death from any cause" Rosuvastatin versus Placebo. It looks like the in the years after four more people would be dying from Crestor then if they take nothing. And that why the study was stopped.
My interpretation as to why the JUPITER Study was stopped early is a bit different. There is a graph as part of the study that shows "Death from any cause" Rosuvastatin versus Placebo. It looks like the in the years after four more people would be dying from Crestor then if they take nothing. And that why the study was stopped.
COMMUNITY LEADER
"It looks like the in the years after four more people would be dying from Crestor then if they take nothing. And that why the study was stopped."
That is not correct and as you know if you read studies, All Cause Death Rates are not always linked back to the trial and they are not considered statistically significant unless they are tied to a direct cause which was not the case in JUPITER.
The statement approved by the FDA;
"A press statement on the company's website said that the trial's Steering Committee and also the Independent Data Monitoring Board recommended that JUPITER be stopped early because there was "unequivocal evidence of a reduction in cardiovascular morbidity and mortality amongst patients" who took Crestor compared to patients who took placebo."
This decision was approved by the FDA based on the opinion of the Independent Data Monitoring Board overseeing JUPITER.
Here is the statement from the National Institute of Health (NIH);
"AstraZeneca announced it has decided to stop the CRESTOR JUPITER clinical study early based on a recommendation from an Independent Data Monitoring Board and the JUPITER Steering Committee, which met on March 29, 2008. The study will be stopped early because there is unequivocal evidence of a reduction in cardiovascular morbidity and mortality amongst patients who received CRESTOR when compared to placebo."
That is not correct and as you know if you read studies, All Cause Death Rates are not always linked back to the trial and they are not considered statistically significant unless they are tied to a direct cause which was not the case in JUPITER.
The statement approved by the FDA;
"A press statement on the company's website said that the trial's Steering Committee and also the Independent Data Monitoring Board recommended that JUPITER be stopped early because there was "unequivocal evidence of a reduction in cardiovascular morbidity and mortality amongst patients" who took Crestor compared to patients who took placebo."
This decision was approved by the FDA based on the opinion of the Independent Data Monitoring Board overseeing JUPITER.
Here is the statement from the National Institute of Health (NIH);
"AstraZeneca announced it has decided to stop the CRESTOR JUPITER clinical study early based on a recommendation from an Independent Data Monitoring Board and the JUPITER Steering Committee, which met on March 29, 2008. The study will be stopped early because there is unequivocal evidence of a reduction in cardiovascular morbidity and mortality amongst patients who received CRESTOR when compared to placebo."
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the Cholesterol Community
Is a low-fat diet really that heart healthy after all? James D. Nicolantonio, PharmD, urges us to reconsider decades-long dietary guidelines.
Can depression and anxiety cause heart disease? Get the facts in this Missouri Medicine report.
Fish oil, folic acid, vitamin C. Find out if these supplements are heart-healthy or overhyped.
Learn what happens before, during and after a heart attack occurs.
What are the pros and cons of taking fish oil for heart health? Find out in this article from Missouri Medicine.
How to lower your heart attack risk.
