Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Even more on cholesterol

All of what I have been saying about cholesterol has been supported in the latest 2 major studies published in the June 2010. The first study “Cholesterol Lowering, Cardiovascular Diseases, and the Rosuvastatin-JUPITER Controversy. A Critical Reappraisal “ by Michel de Lorgeril and her 8 colleagues found that one of the major studies, probably the most influential of the studies to justify cholesterol lowering drug use and sponsored by the drug companies “the JUPITER Study” was severely flawed. This study did a careful and independent review of both results and methods used in the Jupiter Study and reported that the “trial was flawed”. In an unprecedented attack on the study they (scientist other than myself usually don’t say boo even when it is serious) stated that “The possibility that bias entered the trial is particularly concerning because of the strong commercial interest in the study.” In other words the big pharmaceutical money influenced the study. And concluded "The results of the trial do not support the use of statin treatment for primary prevention of cardiovascular diseases and raise troubling questions concerning the role of commercial sponsors.” This is a scathing attack in scientific terms of the earlier drug company sponsored study. Scientist do not go out of their way to create waves but these ones have not just found different results but also criticised the earlier studies link with pharmaceutical industry. Why this is so important is that my next book “the great cholesterol deception” does exactly that. It highlights not only that the studies don’t show any significant results but these studies and the education of our doctors is strongly influenced by the drug companies. (Arch Intern Med. 2010;170(12):1032-1036. )


In the second study “Statins and All-Cause Mortality in High-Risk Primary Prevention. A Meta-analysis of 11 Randomized Controlled Trials Involving 65 229 Participants” (don’t worry about the title too much) by Ray Kausik and 6 other independent researchers found the use of statins in this high-risk individuals was not associated with a statistically significant reduction. That is they don’t save lives. Their data combined from 11 studies with 65 229 participants followed for approximately 244 000 person-years, a very big study reported that this meta-analysis did not find evidence for the benefit of statin therapy on all-cause mortality in a high-risk primary prevention set-up.” In other words they don’t save lives even in a high risk group. Even if you have all the elevated risk factors they don’t work. (Arch Intern Med. 2010;170(12):1024-1031).

Combining the results of the two studies cholesterol lowering drugs do not reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke or all cause mortality (eg cancer) in high risk individuals. They don’t work but cost the Australian tax payer more than $1 billion a year and up to a thousand dollars a year for individuals. Why doesn’t the government open it eyes. It could save a lot of pain and suffering (because of the serious side effects) and a lot of money? Why? All the major political parties get donations from the big pharmaceutical companies. Yes I have a chapter on that too.

Please circulate this information to everyone you know it might save their life and money.

5 comments:

  1. Hi peter
    It is so confusing, I have a cholestrol reading of 7 and doctor said I should be on statins, but I chose to do more exercise, eat better, stress less and take fish oil.
    Sometimes its hard to know what to do with so many advices. I am a keen follower of Okinawan diet, but I am also careful not to forget our Paleo past. The mind boggles...
    what do u think of coconut oil?

    ReplyDelete
  2. You're on the right track

    The interesting thing is that cholesterol has nothing to do with
    heart attacks and stroke. I cant tell you not to go on statins but
    the research overwhelmingly shows lowering cholesterol does not save
    lives. The drugs will lower cholesterol but they wont lower your risk
    at all. See the two new studies i just put up. This is the same for
    margarines that are supposed to lower cholesterol. What a toxic food.
    It may lower your cholesterol but it does not reduce your risk of
    heart attack or stroke. But a lot of people do make a lot of money
    out of it.

    Unfortunately many doctors are educated by the drug company
    information. I spend a whole chapter on this in my next book. this is
    not good science.

    You will find my book in a few months explains all this and more and
    you will be able to give it to your doctor. If they don't read it
    then get another doctor who is open to the truth.

    Cholestrol drugs are already on the way out I just want to speed it
    up because they are costly and dangerous. It is really time for an
    open public debate on this topic.

    The Paleo diet is great. That's where we have come from. I cant find
    any problem with coconut oil. i use it regularly.

    ReplyDelete
  3. have been reading with interest all your
    imfo and find what you have to say very interesting, I have diabetes 2 and used
    to have a cholesterol reading of 5.8 and couldn't get it lower taking lipitor
    for 5 years..
    I currently live in Thailand where I was recommended to buy a product called
    Benecol which I took for 3 mths before returning to Perth for my annual blood
    test, much to my Doctors surprise my cholesterol reading was only 1, he asked
    what was the change in my diet, I responded with taking a bottle of Benecol out
    of my pocket and showing him, he glanced at it and said nothing..
    I said to him now that I Have a reading of 1 can I go off Lipitor, he responded
    with a positive NO..
    Also my prostate reading has dropped from 2.5 to 0 in the same time is was taking Benecol and Pumpkin seeds ...

    ReplyDelete
  4. For those of you that are not aware, Benecol is an American base product similar to the Australian flora proactive. They have mixed Plant Stanol Esters into a spread or other delivery method to prevent the bowel from reabsorbing the cholesterol so it is properly excreted through the faeces. Although effective having a cholesterol level of 1 is far too low and I find it interesting that the doctor was not open to the idea of removing the statin medication

    ReplyDelete
  5. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete