For
confirmation from journal articles on primary role of infective agent enter into http://scholar.google.com/ terms such as bacteria + atherosclerosis
or go to http://healthfully.org/rl/id8.html and id9 for collection of articles For
confirmation of cholesterol myth enter into http://scholar.google.com/ or http://www.amazon.com/ cholesterol myth, or go to http://healthfully.org/rl/id5.html for collection of journal articles.
Statins
a 3 Page Critical Review (update
7/9/15) http://healthfully.org/rc/id6.html
It is essential for you to understand how pharma (pharmaceutical
industry) distorts, and
controls medical information, and guidelines, thus read Market Science and Misinformation,
side
effect, & Marcia Angell’s book. Marketing
pitch for the statins is based on high Total
Cholesterol (TC) and LDL causing
heart attacks, strokes and, CardioVascular
Disease (CVD); but CVD is caused by bacterial and viruses within the
artery wall (tunica media that
cause atherosclerosis (AS), thus lowering cholesterol doesn’t work--see Cholesterol Myth. Claims of saving lives are
based on tobacco
science, as too are the guidelines[1]. As the material below demonstrates, it all is
upside down and worse. The best-selling drug of all times is atorvastatin,
marketed as Lipitor by Pfizer (US sales $12.4 billion in 2008, and world-wide
total sales of $131 billion by 2007). With 50% of the men and 36% of the women age 65
to 74 taking statins
(CDC/NCHS,
Health, US, 2010);
their
human costs
is incredible including , while better alternatives[2]
are shown harmful by pharma’s tobacco science.
The cholesterol myth and effective
prevention get little space in the corp.
media.—watch YouTube documentaries.
Statins discovery and
approval
casts doubts. In the early 1970s
an
extract from a fungus was shown reduce serum cholesterol, but the Japanese
research stopped because of animal toxicity
& cancer. Using a similar extract
Merck
in 1978 developed Mevacor
(lavostatin). This
“’Statin produced
significant toxicity at high doses
in a variety of animal species” (ibid 520). Animal studies showed it caused cancer (given the 20-year latency in
humans, still a grave concern). Merck
tested low-dose Mevacor for homozygous familial
hypercholesterolemia. The
FDA gave
approval for this rare condition. Once
approved--as is the norm--the population base was expanded based on “marketing
science”. Because statins
lower TC 30%, they were pushed as
the only
effective treatment for CVD. But
weak
epidemiological association of elevated TC with CVD doesn’t
demonstrate cause. With in-house studies Merck and the
manufacturers of the 9 me-too statins sold the world on “safe-and-effective”. In Braunwald, Heart Disease, 8th
Ed. P 2286: “safe, effective, and well-tolerated pharmacologic agents that have
greatly expanded the therapeutic armamentarium available to the physician to
treat disorders of lipid metabolism.”
But in Braunwald, p 1085 table, 3 of 4 listed studies didn’t support
effective. Merck’s JUPITER
Study, 2008,
is used to push primary prevention, but has major internal inconsistency: the
cooked results “do not support primary
prevent of CVD”. Moreover,
“statin
therapy and top athletics seem to be almost incompatible,”73% dropped out. Statins don’t extend life and their side effects are grossly
under-reported. Because statins
don’t treat the causes of CVD,
they are ineffective; thus there is a chorus of marginalized critics.
18 NEGATIVE EFFECTS: One,
ED, it lowers
testosterone , and nitrous
oxide thus causes ED; a similar
effect upon women for the steroids are synthesized from cholesterol. Two, COX-2 inhibitor, just like Vioxx, which
increased heart attacks (MIs) over 300%[3]. The American Heart Association
warns:
“accumulated evidence that
non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory drugs [COX inhibitors], with the exception of aspirin,
increase risk for
heart attack and stroke”--promote atherogenesis. Three, blocks production of
Q10, which enters LDL and inhibits oxidative damage that causes atherogenesis, and. Four, Plaque instability: “Vulnerability
of
plaques to rupture and thrombosis is of greater clinical
relevance than the degree of stenosis they cause”
(Corti et al., 2003). “Statins
affect plaque stability in a variety of ways. The meta-loproteinases degrade
extra-cellular matrix components and thus “weaken
the fibrous cap and destabilize the
lesions” -- Goodman and Gilman pharmacology, 11th Ed, p
950. Rupture of plaque causes over
80% of MIs. Statins inhibit
secretion MMP-1, 3, & 9 from SMC, and microphages make plaque less
stable. Five, reduction in ATP: Q10 is
needed for the conversion of APD to ATP (adenosine-5-triphosphate), the
source of energy for muscles contraction.
“ATP
is often called the ‘molecular unit of currency’ of intracellular energy transfer including muscle contraction and for chemical
reactions. ATP transports
chemical energy within cells
for metabolism”--Wikipedia. A reduction of
40% in CoQ10 is accepted.[4] Six,
The heart muscle under stress needs more
ATP,
not less. This is why pharma excludes the elderly and
those with coronary heart failure (CHF)
from trials. Thus, “the mean age of ME/CFS patients dying from CHF
are 2.5 years younger
than the control group.” CHF
death rate has tripled since
1989. In a review of statins on depletion of Q10 concludes:
“As the potency of statin drugs increases and as the target LDL
cholesterol level decreases, the severity of Q10 depletion increases and
heart-muscle function declines. This tragic
scenario may very well be prevented by using supplemental Q10 with all HMG
CoA reductase inhibitors [statins]” and,
and. Thus
“Lower
cholesterol, poorer outcome in CHF patients.” Pharma ignores
Q10 side effect. Seven, All Statins inhibit the rate controlling
enzyme HMGCR of the mevalonate pathway.
“This
pathway
generates a range of other products in
addition to cholesterol, including coenzyme Q10, heme-A, [dolichol], the production of dimethylallyl
prophosphate (DMAP), &
isopentenyl pyrophosphate (IPP), which serve as the basis for the biosynthesis of molecules
used
in processes as diverse as terpenoid synthesis, protein prenylation and isoprenylated proteins which
have pivotal roles in cell biology and human physiology and potential relevance
to benefits as well as risks of statins. Drugs, such as the statins, stop the production of mevalonate by
inhibiting HMG-CoA reductase” Wiki.
“The Mevalonate pathway is important for, cell membrane
maintenance, hormones, protein anchoring, and N-glycosylation. It is also a part
of steroid biosynthesis” Wiki. “Dolichols are isoprenoids synthesized from mevalonate. They are vital to the process of Glycoprotein formation in the endoplasmic reticulum of cells. In this capacity it is critical to the formation of the Glycoproteins involved in neuro-peptides, cell
identification, cell messaging and Immune defense. Reduced bioavailability of dolichols can affect every cellular process in the body”
Wiki. And this is only a partial list. Eight, Cholesterol is essential for life. “It
is the precursor for the biosynthesis
of steroid hormones, bile acids, vitamin D, and is an essential component of
cell membranes for proper permeability and fluidity. Effects
include pancreatic and
hepatic dysfunction, ED,
diabetes[5],
muscle weakness and myopathy (muscle disease). The myelin is a cholesterol
base coating around nerve cells[6]” (Wiki). Nine, Cognitive, the reduction Q10 & cholesterol for
the myelin
sheath causes cognitive decline--especially in the elderly where it often
leads to an incorrect diagnosis of
Alzheimer’s disease and of neuropathy. Ten,
Causes
Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases. These conditions are associated with low
level of cholesterol—at Uffe p 56. Eleven Causes cancer a confirmation of earlier animal studies—summary
of cancers, and. Twelve
Stimulates
atherosclerosis and heart disease by blocking the vital CoQ10, heme A, vitamin K2 (the
cofactor for matrix Gla-protein activation) and biosynthesis of selenium
containing proteins, one of which is vital glutathione
peroxidase—at
2015. This article states that
“statins stimulate atherosclerosis and heart failure”, and then provides the
mechanisms. Thirteen
Causes Interstitial lung
disease is similar to emphysema in that it is a progressive condition that
affects alveolar epithelium and other tissues.
Of FDA reported side effects, it is 1/40th. Fourteen, Causes cancer
in animal studies, and thus in humans, at. Fifteen,
Side effects account for the poor
compliance in the elderly (75% stop
within 2 years). Poor compliance
also occurs with
elite athletes (see 1st pg). Sixteen treats the wrong cause,
cholesterol doesn’t cause ischemic events or atherosclerosis but rather
infective agents (and) living in the tunica intima;
thus statins are ineffective.
Three out
of 4 major studies of secondary prevention (ALL-HAT, ASCOT, & PROSPER) failed
to find life extension from statins
(Table 42-78, Braunwald’s Supra, p
1085). This table stands in opposition
to the “safe & effective”
claim (p 2286), which is
pharma’s mantra, a mantra supported by their marketing studies and guidelines. Junk science is the norm (p 3) on TNT trial. Seventeen, Primary prevention of high risk no benefit huge meta-study found, in JAMA. Eighteen, drug
interaction with serious
side effects are common, considering that over half of senior in their 6th
decade have taken statins, and seniors average age 72 average 6 drugs according
to a hospital emergency admission study (polypharmacy).
THREE POSITIVE EFFECTS: 1)
Anti-inflammatory effect: but
because of effect upon prostaglandins statins like the NSAIDs doesn’t inhibit atherogenesis
inflammatory process—see Vioxx, and. 2) Statin reduces
the risk for thrombosis
by affecting clotting, just like aspirin. But rather than promote the sales of
over-the-counter NSAID, pharma pitches lower TC. 3) For the rare familial hyperlipidemia extends life modestly at best—Prof.
Ravnskov, Ignore the
Awkward, chap. 3.
On statins:
Since “cholesterol synthesis occurs mostly at night” (Wiki), TC
should be treated at night with short
half-life[7]
& low dose:
Zocor 2 hrs, Mevacor
1.4 hrs, Pravachol 1.75 hrs, and niacin 35 min. Avoid Lipitor 14 hrs, Crestor 19 hours.
Sorting it out,
RECOMMENDATIONS: Atherogenesis
is caused pathogens within the artery walls. This initiates an
inflammatory immune response by macrophages. LDL which has an immune response is actively
transported into the artery
walls where it contents cholesterol from part of the resultant plaque. Because
of this transport process, lowering
LDL doesn’t affect the formation of plaque, thus statins don’t stop plaque
formation or remove it from within artery walls (see illustration). The
32% drop in deaths
from heart attacks and strokes (1960 to 1992) occurred prior to statins. With
statins’ wide use, mortality rate has remained
constant. Mevacor was approved in
1987 with only 60,000 taking it by 1990.
Reduced death rate was from less cigarettes and better treatment. Statins
reduce quality of life for the
elderly: a large Canadian study
had 75% dropout by 2 years, and 80% in a NJ study. Very common and under reported side effects are: fatigue, muscle weakness & cramps, mental
confusion, pancreatic and liver dysfunction, diabetes, indigestion, cognitive
decline, ED, & lower libido, especially for the elderly. Lowering TC
with statins doesn’t affect the young unstable plaque that cause 85% MIs because
pathogens are the cause of the plaque formation. . What to do: Don’t take a
statin because they do not reduce
mortality; they aren’t worth their side effects & expense. Lifestyle
changes of low
carbohydrate-sugar diet lowers damage
to endothelial cells on the artery walls.
Damage is caused mainly by glycation by fructose (7.5 times the rate of
glucose). Avoid carbon monoxide
(cigarettes main source)
which exacerbates the damage. Endothelial
cells block the migration of pathogens. Saturated and monounsaturated fats
are the best source of energy. Everyone
should take the antioxidants ascorbic
acid and Q10, prevent
oxidative damage. Take 325 mg aspirin[8]
with meals for its anti-inflammatory effect that prevents CVD; and aspirin prevents
blood clots thus lowering ischemic events,
etc5. Low dose aspirin is
ineffective because of tolerance after 1 year.
Take the natural estrogen (estradiol) & progesterone at menopause. Estrogen[9] lowers risk of CVD 50%, osteoporosis and much more. For elderly men testosterone lowers risk &
increases survival from an MI. Pharma
attacks hormones & aspirin because they work. Read Marking
Science, be skeptical of medical “wisdom.”
If you still want to lower TC
then take 250 mg slow release
niacin or inositol hexanicotinate at
night, when it is effective. Insulin
produced following meals blocks the lipid lowering effect of niacin inositol
& statins. High dose during the day
is a pharma ploy to reduce the use of niacin.
JK has exercised
vigorously since 1975; 325 mg twice daily aspirin since 1992; testosterone high
dose 2003; low-sugar low carb diet 2014, 300 mg CoQ10 2012, and vitamin C 1000
mg (as calcium ascorbate) 2014. Results:
JK is in 7th decade,
excellent muscle tone and strength, no joint pain, blood pressure averages
125/75, BMI 23, and total cholesterol 165.
Pharma has turned hypertension,
and cholesterol into medical
conditions, and watch documentaries
on YouTube.
[1] New
guidelines (3/2014) based on a 10 year 7.5% risk for MI would put 87% of
men and & 56% of women age 60-75 on statins.
[2] See
the 8-page paper ”On
Lifestyle Diet and Drugs, or 2-page summation”. Two studies have shown
using raw data that positive bias is 32%.for pharma’s clinical trials. Pharma’s
business model drives them to marketing patented drugs for chronic conditions,
most of which are ineffective.
[3]
A
reasonable assessment of total early deaths from the selective COX-2 inhibitors
in the US would be over 200,000; and a much greater number for the
non-selective COX inhibitors, the NSAIDs—but for aspirin. Celebrex is
still on the market, and though
warnings about all COX inhibitors
warning that they promote CVD, the
oft-heard sales message prevails.
[4]
After
3 months treatment of healthy patients with a poor TC using pravastatin
or
simvastatin, the total cholesterol and CoQ10 (Q10)
were lowered 40%, when
compared to the placebo group. “A diminution of Q10 availability may be
the
cause of membrane alteration with consequent cellular
damage”—Journal
of clinical Pharmacology. This finding is
supported in other studies and widely accepted—summary article.
[5]
9% increase in risk of developing diabetes over 4 years, meta study Lancet 2010
based on pharma trials--undoubtedly under-reported.
[6] The 2nd
cause for neuropathy, the first low Q10.
The two are additive.
[7]
“Half-life (t½)
the time that it takes for the concentration in blood plasma of a substance to
reach one-half of its initial measured level “(Wiki).
[8] Aspirin
very significant risk reduction of most major cancers and Alzheimer’s disease, plus it reduces mortality from stage I, II, III cancer
over
40%, and by 4 mechanism atherogenesis. The long-term risk for stomach
bleeding is about 4%; comparable
to other NSAIDs and many other drugs. Pharma’s attack with FDAs help is
market driven. Low does not have an
anti-inflammatory effect and tolerance develops to its anti-platelet effect.
[9]
For many benefits
of natural
HRT,
and testosterone for
men; and don’t believe the marketing science about hormones.
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