Re: Cholesterol Craziness

That is an excellent article with definite facts.  There are a lot of claims to address though.  Are there specific ones you are trying to back?

For example, the claim that statins cause muscle tissue breakdown.  Yes, this is true.  It is called rhabdomyolosis, which also affects the heart leading to heart failure.  The statins decrease CoQ10 levels leading to drops of muscle ATP, which in turn leads to the muscle deterioration.  This is actually well known in the medical field.

The claim that cholesterol levels have nothing to do with the risk of heart disease is also true.  About 50% of heart attacks occur in people with low to normal cholesterol levels.  Even more interesting is the fact that low cholesterol is a major risk factor for heart attacks and strokes as well as dementia, depression and bone loss.  The increased risk of heart attacks and stroke come from the drop in hormones called prostaglandins.  This leads to constriction of blood vessels, which can cut off the blood supply to the heart and brain leading to heart attacks and strokes.  The decreased blood flow to the brain and the lowered level of cholesterol needed for proper brain function leads to the dementia.  Declining levels of prostaglandins from low cholesterol also leads to depression.  Lower levels of vitamin D, produced from cholesterol, lead to bone loss and other problems.

All of this is verifiable from medical journals.