Common Cholesterol Drug Lowers Cholesterol but Not Death Rate

Common Cholesterol Drug Lowers Cholesterol but Not Death Rate


Numerous studies have shown that statins, drugs to lower cholesterol, can reduce rates of heart disease and prevent heart disease by lowering cholesterol levels, however a new study involving the statin pravastatin, known as Pravachol, proved otherwise.

In the study, which compared the effects of pravastatin versus the usual care recommended by physicians on cholesterol levels of over 10,000 people, found that the drug did not reduce the risk of death or heart disease in those with moderately high cholesterol and high blood pressure. Though statins have been the subject of many clinical trials, groups of people, such as women and certain racial groups, and individuals such as those with well-controlled hypertension and diabetes, were not adequately represented. The new study used a wide range of people -- made up of almost half women, 38 percent black, 35 percent with a history of diabetes, and 55 percent aged 65 years or older -- to assess the drug's effects.

Results showed that pravastatin did indeed lower cholesterol, with a decrease of 17 percent in total cholesterol levels among those taking statin, compared with eight percent in the usual care group after four years of the study. Levels of LDL, bad cholesterol, had also dropped -- 28 percent among those taking pravastatin and 11 percent in the usual care group.

However, while lowered LDL cholesterol has been shown to reduce the risk of stroke and heart attack, study participants who took pravastatin and those who received usual care showed the same rates of death and heart disease.

JAMA December 18, 2002;288:1998-3007,3042-3044


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DR. MERCOLA'S COMMENT:

This raises the question of whether statin drugs even work to lower the risk of heart disease. I haven't examined this issue for some time, but this study provides an opportunity to review the basics and provide some practical alternatives.

First, it is important to remember history. Less than 18 months ago Baycol, a statin drug, was removed from the market because dozens of deaths had been associated with its use, causing nearly 750,000 people to stop taking the drug.

If you were to believe the "experts," half of Americans should be placed on these statin drugs.

However, nothing could be further from the truth. As the study above suggests, when you treat the symptoms of high cholesterol with a drug you are in no way, shape or from treating the cause. So it should come as no surprise that they do not work to lower the overall death rate.

However, there are some simple things one can do to normalize
cholesterol levels.

The first is to normalize your insulin levels by eliminating Sugar and grains. This works for most people unless they have a genetic defect called familial hypercholsterolemia.

Secondly you can take a high-quality fish oil that is chock full of beneficial omega-3 fatty acids. It is important to find a fish oil that is independently tested by a lab and found to conform to purity guidelines.
This will ensure that the oil is free of mercury and other toxins. One such brand, which I have found to be of superior quality, is Carlson's fish and cod liver oil, and I now offer this exceptional fish oil/cod liver oil to you in my "Recommended Products" section.

Additionally, if you are a man, or a woman who is in menopause, you should check your iron levels as elevated levels of iron can raise cholesterol levels and cause major oxidative damage in the blood vessels, heart and other organs. Excess iron is also one of the major contributing factors of cancer risk.

Regular exercise is another important tool that may reduce your risk of heart disease.

Related Articles:

The Baycol Recall: How Safe Is Your Statin?
Women Can Have Too Much Iron
Iron Can Have Devastating Effects on Your Health
Exercise Could Wipe Out Effect of Stress on Heart

http://www.mercola.com/2003/jan/4/pravachol.htm

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