Pharma against statins  --  what’s going on –6/9/15

Statins safety is now questioned in the corporate media. In the article below syndicated pharmacist Suzy Cohen names three products of the mevalonate pathway that are partial blocked by statins and she mentions their negative health consequences.  She even provides a link to a journal article which just discovered that statins “stimulate atherosclerosis and heart failure”.  The article lists just three of the partial block bio-important products (the abstract of the research article used by Cohen is found after her article below) . Why hasn’t these issue raised by Suzy Cohen been brought before the public and physicians in the over 20 years the blockbuster statins has been on the market?  This journal article is only the tip of a large and complex body of journal articles exposing pharma’s second biggest heist (SSRIs and benzodiazepines is the biggest).  So why has the article by Suzy Cohen been widely distributed while the chorus of vocal critics has been essentially ignored by the corporate media?   

This sort of revelation by pharma is all about money and thus marketing; and Suzy probably merely signed her name to an article ghost-written by pharma—the same with the journal article.  This attack upon older drugs going off patent is a pattern used over and over again by pharma to switch the prescribing of physicians from the older to newer drugs.  Pharma has started to promote their replacements for the cholesterol lowering statins because most of them are now off patent.  The attack starts with pointing out side effects.  New drugs are always safer and better.  The article below is of interest, but don’t lose sight of orchestrated music played by pharma.  It is the first chords of a long symphony.

Suzy Cohen is an attractive pharmacist who has appeared repeatedly on the Dr. Oz Show, and other programs.  She writes a regular syndicated column, writes books, and has a website to promote her and her products at http://suzycohen.com/.  

For the new product watch Amgen’s video on how their new PCSK9 receptor drug works—and remember that is marketing dressed as science. http://www.cholesterolneversleeps.com/what-is-pcsk9.html?WT.z_co=A&WT.z_in=DYS&WT.z_ch=DSP&WT.z_ag=AG705&WT.tsrc=DSP&WT.mc_id=A_DYS_DSP_AG705

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http://suzycohen.com/articles/statins_cramps/    PDF        http://suzycohen.com/articles/statins_cramps/

Taking Statins?  Beware!

by Suzy Cohen pharmacist   on April 8, 2015 in Fatigue, Heart Disease, Heart Health, Medications, Medicine, Men's Health, Methylation, Thyroid, Women's Health · Comments { 151 }  ---  April 2015

If you’re one of the millions of people diagnosed with high cholesterol, you will more than likely be given a prescription “statin” pill. It’s easier to take a statin, truly I get it, it’s hard to control diet and to exercise and to live a life of limitations after all this time. For a satirical look at what you need to do before taking a statin, read my quick (and somewhat silly) scenario at the doctor’s office here. 
Now, let’s get back to the statins, these work well to reduce cholesterol:
-Lovastatin for Mevacor
-Atorvastatin for Lipitor
-Pravastatin for Pravachol
-Fluvastatin for Lescol
-Simvastatin for Zocor
-Pitavastatin for Livalo
-Rosuvastatin for Crestor
-Others in combination form

What do they do?

Statins affect many pathways in the body. They are strong anti-inflammatories [not so. weak], so strong that they are being tested for their use in cancer patients![1]   As for cholesterol reduction, they work by crushing a natural enzyme in your body that would otherwise allow you to make your own cholesterol.

Statins do not suck out gooey cholesterol from your arteries, nor does it negate cheese fries.

No, these drugs merely suppress new production of cholesterol. Here’s where blind faith (take this pill and you’ll feel better) collides with scientific research.

This year a study was published (in the Expert Review of Clinical Pharmacology), entitled,
Statins stimulate atherosclerosis and heart failure: pharmacological mechanisms. Repeat: “Statins stimulate atherosclerosis and heart failure.” Whoa!

The researchers concluded, “The epidemic of heart failure and atherosclerosis that plagues the modern world may paradoxically be aggravated by the pervasive use of statin drugs.” What an irony! The problem is that many other studies have found similar disastrous effects on the heart. It has to do with mitochondrial dysfunction, which means that the little generators in your heart cells get sick.

Your heart is a very high energy muscle. It requires thriving, mitochondria in order to churn out ATP, your energy molecule. Statins are toxic to mitochondria because they deplete coenzyme Q10 which is needed for healthy mitochondria. Statins also deplete a special protein called “Heme A” that totes oxygen and iron to your heart. The long-term depletion interrupts ATP production and leads to cellular fatigue among other major problems. You cannot survive long-term without adequate ATP production so it needs to be restored. Fatigue, cramps, muscle weakness, memory loss, depression, cancer … you must have ATP in your body or else! (Biting my lip)

Statins inhibit the biosynthesis of vitamin K2 which we manufacture if we have healthy intestinal gut flora.
Do you?
I don’t know anyone who has a perfect gut. K2 also comes from fermented veggies. It protects our arteries from calcium plaques or atherosclerosis. Without enough K2, statin-induced or not, we are compromised.[2] (Eyes rolling now).

Today, we know statins block very special, powerful selenium-containing proteins known as selenoproteins, the most famous of those is called glutathione peroxidase, which protects muscle tissue from free radical damage (oxidation).

What’s the busiest muscle in your body? It has to work 24/7. It’s your heart! (Smacks forehead).

Your heart muscle cells are ‘burned’ form all the oxidation (due to the impairment of selenoprotein biosynthesis) and this is a factor in congestive heart failure. This reminds me of Keshan’s disease which is heart failure due to low selenium.

If you have to take statins, please use the lowest dose possible. Be diligent about putting back the nutrients that statins interfere with such as the coenzyme Q10, selenium, and vitamin K2, along with other heart healthy nutrients. There are exceptions to taking these nutrients so ask your doctor (yes, the same one that gave you the statin.)

This is a classic case of drug mugging, and I hope you will consider replenishing some of the affected nutrients, especially if you have uncomfortable or new symptoms.  I wrote about this in my book, Drug Muggers.  Remember to talk to your physician about dosages of these vitamins, because it is highly individual; dosages vary from person to person based upon age, sex, weight, kidney or liver function, even genetic SNPs and much more.  Also, keep in mind how important nutrients are in your body. Your body runs on the essentials, it does not run because of medication. As an example, if you have low levels of a natural B vitamin (folate) then you cannot properly methylation. If your methylation pathways are hindered, your toxins build up and your cholesterol ratios are adversely affected.  There are over 200 drugs that reduce folate, all discussed and listed in my Drug Muggers book.   For that matter, there are many SNPs that cause illness, or personality quirks and traits, so read my article on “Genes, Methylation and Your Health” right now. Please be sure to leave me your comments below, on my forum where we can discuss things together and help one another. Everyone, chime in! 

Copyright © 2014 Suzy Cohen, RPh & Dear Pharmacist, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 

Photography by Melissa Shanley - Web Design by Stephanie Vinson

The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Dear Pharmacist, Inc. Suzy Cohen is a clinical consultant for Essential Formulas, Inc.

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The article below is from the link provided by Suzy Cohen.  This is an abstract of the 10-page journal article; however, the full article is not available to the public, scientists, or doctors without a payment of $89 for 24 hour access.  

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25655639

Expert Rev Clin Pharmacol. 2015 Mar;8(2):189-99. doi: 10.1586/17512433.2015.1011125. Epub 2015 Feb 6.

Statins stimulate atherosclerosis and heart failure: pharmacological mechanisms.

Abstract

In contrast to the current belief that cholesterol reduction with statins decreases atherosclerosis, we present a perspective that statins may be causative in coronary artery calcification and can function as mitochondrial toxins that impair muscle function in the heart and blood vessels through the depletion of coenzyme Q10 and 'heme A', and thereby ATP generation. Statins inhibit the synthesis of vitamin K2, the cofactor for matrix Gla-protein activation, which in turn protects arteries from calcification. Statins inhibit the biosynthesis of selenium containing proteins, one of which is glutathione peroxidase serving to suppress peroxidative stress. An impairment of selenoprotein biosynthesis may be a factor in congestive heart failure, reminiscent of the dilated cardiomyopathies seen with selenium deficiency. Thus, the epidemic of heart failure and atherosclerosis that plagues the modern world may paradoxically be aggravated by the pervasive use of statin drugs. We propose that current statin treatment guidelines be critically reevaluated.

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The Replacement for Statins

PCSK9 lowers LDL, drugs that mimic this enzyme are to replace statins

PCSK9 has medical significance because it acts in cholesterol homeostasis. Drugs that block PCSK9 can lower low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and are beginning Phase III clinical trials to assess their safety and efficacy in humans, and to determine if they can improve outcomes in heart disease.^[2][3]  Variants of PCSK9 can reduce or increase circulating cholesterol.

LDL-C is removed from the blood when it binds to an LDLR on the surface of liver cells, and is taken inside the cells. When PCSK9 binds to an LDLR, the receptor is destroyed along with the LDL particle. But if PCSK9 does not bind, the receptor can return to the surface of the cell and remove more cholesterol.^[2]

Other variants are associated with a rare autosomal dominant familial hypercholesterolemia(HCHOLA3).^[5][6][7] The mutations increase its protease activity, reducing LDLR levels and preventing the uptake of cholesterol into the cells.^[6]  Drugs can inhibit PCSK9, leading to lowered circulating cholesterol. Since LDL is considered a risk factor forcardiovascular disease like heart attacks, it is plausible that these drugs may also reduce the risk of such diseases. Clinical studies, including phase III clinical trials, are now underway to describe the effect of PCSK9 inhibition on cardiovascular disease, and the safety and efficacy profile of the drugs.^{[8][9][10][11]} Among those inhibitors under development in December 2013 were the antibodies alirocumab, evolocumab, 1D05-IgG2 (Merck), RG-7652 and LY3015014, as well as the RNAi therapeutic ALN-PCS02.^[12]  Wiki        .

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Relevant Links

The issues raised in the journal article and by Cohen are just the tip of the iceberg.  If you care to know more of the 2^nd biggest heist by pharma, click on these links:  Part 7 Videos on YouTube on food, drugs, and health issues    Cholesterol Myth    Cholesterol Myth, source History   Infection in Artery Walls the Major Cause of Atherosclerosis     Statins    CVD Myths:  fats, sugars, cholesterol and statins    Junk treatments