HEALTHY DIETS AND SCIENCE

Statins significantly reduce dolichol levels

noreply@blogger.com (David Evans) — Fri, 24 Jun 2016 06:54:00 +0000

This study was published in BMC Pharmacology and Toxicology 2012, 13(Suppl 1):A51

Study title and authors:
Statins reduce endogenous dolichol levels in the neuroblastoma cell line SH-SY5Y
Bihter Atil, Evelyn Sieczkowski and Martin Hohenegger

Institute of Pharmacology, Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria

This study can be accessed at: http://www.biomedcentral.com/2050-6511/13/S1/A51

Dolichols play an important role in biosynthesis, protein metabolism, cell vitality and immune system health.

This study assessed the effects of simvastatin on dolichol levels. The laboratory based study used the human SH-SY5Y cells.

The study found that dolichol levels were significantly decreased by simvastatin.

More information about dolichols, statins and the mevalonate pathway:
The deadly effects statins have on the mevalonate pathway
Statin Damage to the Mevalonate Pathway

Statin use might increase the risk of age-related macular degeneration

noreply@blogger.com (David Evans) — Tue, 21 Jun 2016 05:49:00 +0000

2006 Jan;124(1):33-7

Study title and authors:
3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme a reductase inhibitors and the presence of age-related macular degeneration in the Cardiovascular Health Study.

McGwin G Jr, Modjarrad K, Hall TA, Xie A, Owsley C.
Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Suite 609, 700 S. 18th Street, Birmingham, AL 35294-0009, USA. mcgwin@uab.edu

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16401782/

The objective of the study was to evaluate both the use of cholesterol-lowering medications as a group and the use of statins specifically with regard to the risk of age-related macular degeneration. The study included 2,755 men and women aged over 65 years.

The study found:
(a) Those taking cholesterol-lowering medications had a 35% increased risk of age-related macular degeneration compared to those not taking cholesterol-lowering medications.
(b) Those taking statins had a 40% increased risk of age-related macular degeneration compared to those not taking statins.

McGwin concluded: "Statin use might increase the risk of age-related macular degeneration".

Low cholesterol associated with dissociative disorders

noreply@blogger.com (David Evans) — Sun, 12 Jun 2016 11:22:00 +0000

2004 Nov;161(11):2121-3

Study title and authors:
Serum lipid levels in patients with dissociative disorder.

Agargun MY, Ozer OA, Kara H, Sekeroglu R, Selvi , Eryonucu B.
Department of Psychiatry, Yüzüncü Yil University School of Medicine, Van 65200, Turkey. myagargun@kure.com.tr

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15514416

Someone with a dissociative disorder escapes reality in ways that are involuntary and unhealthy. The person with a dissociative disorder experiences a disconnection and lack of continuity between thoughts, memories, surroundings, actions and identity. Signs and symptoms of dissociative disorders include:

Memory loss (amnesia) of certain time periods, events and people
Mental health problems, such as depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts and attempts
A sense of being detached from yourself
A perception of the people and things around you as distorted and unreal
A blurred sense of identity
Significant stress or problems in your relationships, work or other important areas of your life.

This study investigated the association between low cholesterol levels and dissociative disorders. The study included 16 patients with dissociative disorder and 16 normal comparison subjects.

The study found:
(a) Patients with dissociative disorders had 15% lower cholesterol levels than normal comparison subjects.
(b) Patients with dissociative disorders had 27% lower levels of low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol than normal comparison subjects.
(c) Patients with dissociative disorders had 33% lower levels of very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) cholesterol than normal comparison subjects.
(d) Patients with dissociative disorders had 32% lower triglyceride levels than normal comparison subjects.
Agargun concluded: "Low serum lipid concentrations may be related to a high incidence of self-injurious behaviors and borderline features in patients with dissociative disorders."

Links to other studies:
Both low cholesterol levels and declining cholesterol levels are associated with increased risk of death from suicide in men.
Low cholesterol levels associated with violence, antisocial behaviour and premature death
Low cholesterol increases suicide risk

Statins associated with a 101% increase in diabetes

noreply@blogger.com (David Evans) — Fri, 10 Jun 2016 18:08:00 +0000

2016 Jun 7

Study title and authors:
Use of Statins and the Risk of Incident Diabetes: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Olotu BS, Shepherd MD, Novak S, Lawson KA, Wilson JP, Richards KM, Rasu RS.
Department of Pharmacy Practice, University of Kansas School of Pharmacy, 2010 Becker Dr., Lawrence, KS, 66047, USA. buzzlotus@ku.edu.

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27272032

The objective of this study was to examine whether the use of statins increases the risk of diabetes. The two year study included 106,424 subjects, aged 20-63 years, of which 53,212 were statin users and 53,212 non statin users. None of the subjects had diabetes at the start of the study.

The study found that statins users had a 101% increased risk of diabetes compared to non users.

Links to other studies:

Statin use is associated with weight gain and a large increase in diabetes
Statin use associated with 87% increased risk of diabetes
Statin use is associated with an increased risk of type two diabetes, which increases with longer duration of use

Statins associated with a 75% increased risk of death in patients with lung disease

noreply@blogger.com (David Evans) — Sat, 28 May 2016 06:08:00 +0000

This study was published in the American Thoracic Society Journal 2010.181.1_MeetingAbstracts.A170110.1164

Study title and authors:
Effect Of Statin Therapy On Outcomes In Patients With Acute Lung Injury And Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome.
Seth R. Bauer, PharmD, Simon W. Lam, PharmD, Anita J. Reddy, MD

This study can be accessed at: http://www.atsjournals.org/doi/abs/10.1164/ajrccm-conference.2010.181.1_MeetingAbstracts.A1701

Acute lung injury/acute respiratory distress syndrome is a life-threatening medical condition where the lungs can't provide enough oxygen for the rest of the body.

This study investigated the effects of statins on patients diagnosed with acute lung injury/acute respiratory distress syndrome who received treatment in an intensive care unit setting. The study included 187 patients who were divided into three groups:
(i) Patients who received statins before and continued after acute lung injury/acute respiratory distress syndrome diagnosis.
(ii) Patients who received statins before but not after acute lung injury/acute respiratory distress syndrome diagnosis.
(iii) Patients who never had statins.

The study found:
(a) Overall, patients who received statins had a 75% increased risk of death compared to patients who never had statins.
(b) Patients who received statins before and continued after acute lung injury/acute respiratory distress syndrome diagnosis had a 114% increased risk of death compared to patients who never had statins.
(c) Patients who received statins before but not after acute lung injury/acute respiratory distress syndrome diagnosis had a 41% increased risk of death compared to patients who never had statins.

Links to other studies:
Link between statin use and interstitial lung disease
63.5% of patients report experiencing side-effects due to statins
Doctor says statin drug hypersensitivity reactions are potentially life-threatening

Review of my book Statins Toxic Side Effects by Dr Rajendra Sharma

noreply@blogger.com (David Evans) — Thu, 26 May 2016 05:55:00 +0000

I've had a positive review of my book Statins Toxic Side Effects by Dr Rajendra Sharma published in the Caduceus Journal

Below is the transcript of the review from the Caduceus Journal (Issue 93 Page 26).

Statins Toxic Side Effects - Evidence from 500 scientific papers by David Evans

Grosvenor House Publishing, Guildford, 2015. Pb, 504pp, £14.99 (Amazon). ISBN 978 1781483909

Reviewed by Rajendra Sharma

David Evans’ first two books on the hazards of low cholesterol and benefits of saturated fats (see article, issue 90) have yet to make the impact they should have. These reference books on the truth behind cholesterol and the risks of lowering it did more than enough to provide ample evidence to guide every prescribing doctor to think long and hard about their training in the treatment of arterial and cardiovascular disease.

As before, Evans’ clear and concise presentation of unequivocal facts highlights the enormous amount of evidence illustrating the failing of the world’s best-selling drugs, statins. Here, more so than in his previous two books, he emphasises the actual damage to our health that these cholesterol-lowering drugs do. His 21 chapters, all easy to read even by the non-scientifically trained, question the current modus operandi of statin prescribing in the face of the illness that these drugs are proven to cause.

Muscle disease, kidney and liver dysfunction, pancreatitis, neurological conditions, autoimmune disease, inflammatory problems along with the bowel, urinary tract, bone structure and fertility are all cited through published, peer-reviewed references. Evans has even highlighted that statins can be associated with depression, suicide, ‘foggy’ brain, reduced exercise performance and antisocial behaviour.

I have been confused over what to advise those with fears of dementia when asked about cholesterol-lowering drugs but Statin Toxic Side Effects records evidence of the production of abnormally phosphorylated Tau proteins, those associated with Alzheimer’s. Herein may lie why some studies suggest benefit while others increased incidence.

These diseases might all be acceptable if we were benefiting from lower cholesterol but unfortunately, normal or even high levels of cholesterol, increase life-span, avoid many lethal conditions and are even associated with lower cardiovascular disease (CVD) deaths. The book reminds us of the importance of cholesterol for production of vitamin D, sex hormones, the stress-coping cortisol and other hormones and pathways.

Evans emphasises once again how statins reduce the availability of essential nutrients such as vitamins A and E, the minerals zinc and copper and interferes with selenium activity. I learned of statins’ effect on pathways influenced by dolichols, protein-binding molecules, and Heme A.

To me, as a front-line physician, to read of many under-publicised research papers suggesting that 17-63.5% of those taking statins suffer side-effects is a relief as it reflects my practice experience. Fortunately, working as I do in integrated medicine and within the private sector, I have the time to deal with the lifestyle, nutrition, exercise, psycho-spiritual and traditional health systems that make an appreciable and real difference to arterial and CV disease. My conventional colleagues are not afforded this time by current medical practice, nor are they or our medical students taught about the alternative options.

The 500 scientific papers indicate that statins do not save lives. Even when taken for years there is little appreciable difference in the CVD mortality. Chapters illustrate how high cholesterol reduces the risk of many other diseases and one worrying chapter specifically highlights how most of those who decide on what are considered to be healthy levels of cholesterol are directly or indirectly in the pay of the statin manufacturers. These Pharma giants also, it appears, fund the majority of the research in this field. Statin sales are now $34bn annually.

Evans cites how the regulators had systematically produced, or been provided with, evidence supporting why lower and lower levels of cholesterol need to be achieved. Those accepting these figures could justify drugging up 35% of an asymptomatic adult male population, most of whom have a low risk of CVD.

The concept of a ‘typical modern day drug trial’ is already itself questionable. Wikipedia currently lists 173 commonly prescribed drugs that have been withdrawn in the last 50 years - all of which had passed conventional efficacy and safety trails. The EU has passed and withdrawn 19 drugs between 2002 and 2011. The deaths attributed to these run into the hundreds of thousands. These are not unusual drugs used in rare diseases but include medication used by millions of people worldwide. Statin withdrawal has, suggests Evans, to follow surely.

Present this book to your doctor. Truly, it will be a gift from the heart to the heart of others.

Dr Rajendra Sharma (MB BCh BAO LRCP&S (Ire) MFHom is a leading Integrated Medical Doctor utilizing conventional, Functional and complementary medicine. His special interest is working with chronic disease and its underlying causes particularly CFS/ME, cancer and other difficult conditions that respond poorly to conventional medicine.

He focuses on optimizing health through nutritional and non-drug medicine and as, until recently, the Secretary to the British Society for Ecological Medicine is involved in environmental health screening (metal toxicity, food allergy, pollution etc.)

Dr Sharma is considered by many as their family doctor and as a generalist works with all medical conditions. He is the author of The Family Encyclopedia of Health and has recently published the quintessential ‘all you need to know’ healthy ageing book, “Live Longer Live Younger”. He has particular links with the media and entertainment industry and over many years has not only provided content and support to the BBC, ITV , Channel 4 and others, but also provided and continues to provide care regularly to many globally acclaimed celebrities. Over his experienced career as Medical Director at the Hale Clinic and The Diagnostic Clinic he has forged new care initiatives. These include the impact of genomics and the environment in optimizing patient protocols, treatment and care plans.

Doctor says statins may be over prescribed five to six fold when using the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association faulty risk calculator

noreply@blogger.com (David Evans) — Sat, 21 May 2016 08:57:00 +0000

2016 May 10;67(18):2118-30

Study title and authors:

Accuracy of the Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Risk Equation in a Large Contemporary, Multiethnic Population.

Rana JS, Tabada GH, Solomon MD, Lo JC, Jaffe MG, Sung SH, Ballantyne CM, Go AS.

Division of Cardiology, Kaiser Permanente Northern California, Oakland, California; Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente Northern California, Oakland, California; Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California.

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27151343

The 2013 American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) Pooled Cohort Equations calculator is used to estimate 10-year absolute risk for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) in primary prevention (people who have not developed clinically manifest cardiovascular disease).

The goal of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of the 2013 ACC/AHA Pooled Cohort Risk Equation. The study included 307,591 ethnically diverse adults without diabetes and not taking statins (aged 40-75 years) who were assessed over five years for or a total of 1,515,142 person-years.

The study found:
(a) Those with a predicted risk of up to 2.49% of having atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease events, only had an actual 0.20% risk.
(b) Those with a predicted risk between 2.50-3.74% of having atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease events, only had an actual 0.65% risk.
(c) Those with a predicted risk between 3.75-4.99% of having atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease events, only had an actual 0.90% risk.
(d) Those with a predicted risk of over 5.0% of having atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease events, only had an actual 1.85% risk.

Rana concluded: "In a large, contemporary "real-world" population, the ACC/AHA Pooled Cohort Risk Equation substantially overestimated actual 5-year risk in adults without diabetes, overall and across sociodemographic subgroups."

Senior author of the study, Dr Alan S. Go, chief of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Conditions Research at the Kaiser Permanente Northern California Division of Research, commented: "The (ACC/AHA Pooled Cohort Risk Equation) overestimation is approximately five- to six-fold... Translating this, it would mean that we would be over-treating a good many people based on the risk calculator... Our study provides critical evidence to support recalibration of the risk equation in 'real world' populations, especially given the individual and public health implications of the widespread application of this risk calculator."

Low cholesterol associated with a 320% increased risk of suicide

noreply@blogger.com (David Evans) — Thu, 19 May 2016 21:46:00 +0000

1992 Aug 1;305(6848):277-9

Study title and authors:
Low serum cholesterol concentration and short term mortality from injuries in men and women.

Lindberg G, Råstam L, Gullberg B, Eklund GA.
Centre for Public Health Research, Karlstad, Sweden.

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1392858

This study set out to investigate the relationship between cholesterol levels and death rates from injuries including suicide. The study included 26,693 men and 27,692 women, (aged 45-74 years), who were followed for 20.5 years.

The study found:
(a) Those in the lowest 25% of the cholesterol distribution had a 180% increased risk of death from injuries compared to those in the top 25% of the cholesterol distribution.
(b) Those in the lowest 25% of the cholesterol distribution had a 320% increased risk of death from suicide compared to those in the top 25% of the cholesterol distribution.

Lindberg concluded: "Together with observations from intervention trials the findings support the existence of a relation between (lower) serum cholesterol concentration and suicide."

Links to other studies:
Both low cholesterol levels and declining cholesterol levels are associated with increased risk of death from suicide in men
Low cholesterol levels are associated with higher rates of attempted suicide
The lower the cholesterol level - the higher the risk of suicide

Low cholesterol is associated with an increased risk of depression and anxiety

noreply@blogger.com (David Evans) — Tue, 17 May 2016 05:51:00 +0000

1999 May-Jun;61(3):273-9

Study title and authors:

Relations of trait depression and anxiety to low lipid and lipoprotein concentrations in healthy young adult women.

Suarez EC.

Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina 27710, USA.

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10367605

The NEO depression scale measures the tendency of individuals to experience depressive affect or mood. Scores range from 0 to 32. High scores are indicative of individuals who are prone to feelings of guilt, sadness, hopelessness, and loneliness.

The trait anxiety subscale of the STPI measures an individual’s enduring tendencies to experience anxious moods and anxiety states. STPI anxiety scores range from 10 to 40, with high scores indicating higher anxiety.

This study investigated the association of cholesterol levels with depression and anxiety. The study included 121 healthy adult women between the ages of 18 and 27 years. Depression was assessed using the NEO depression scale and anxiety was measured by the trait anxiety subscale of the STPI. The women were put into two groups:
(i) Those with cholesterol levels under 4.14 mmol/L (160 mg/dL). (Low cholesterol group)
(ii) Those with cholesterol levels over 4.14 mmol/L (160 mg/dL). (Moderate to high cholesterol group).

The study found:
(a) The women in the low cholesterol group had a 170% increased risk of depression compared with the women in the moderate to high cholesterol group.
(b) The women in the low cholesterol group had a 141% increased risk of anxiety compared with the women in the moderate to high cholesterol group.

Suarez concluded: "Findings from the current study support the general hypothesis that naturally occurring low lipid and lipoprotein concentrations are associated with trait measures of depression and anxiety. These findings are potentially relevant in relation to observations of increased Non Illness Mortality in persons with spontaneously occurring low cholesterol levels as well as to observations of the increased frequency of depression and anxiety in women."

Links to other studies:
Suicide attempters have low cholesterol levels
Low cholesterol associated with depression in elderly men
Low cholesterol levels associated with fatigue and depression

Statins associated with higher risk of death and heart failure in heart attack patients

noreply@blogger.com (David Evans) — Fri, 13 May 2016 03:45:00 +0000

2016 Apr 21;5:2048004016639442

Study title and authors:

Association of statin use and stress-induced hyperglycemia in patients with acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction.

Yan C, Qin M, Juan YS, Tao LY, Dong GM, Zechun Z, Chun YX, Liang CH, Yin L, Kang M.

Department of Cardiology, Tianjin Chest Hospital, Tianjin, China.

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27158481

Stress induced hyperglycemia is a medical term referring to transient elevation of blood glucose due to the stress of illness. Numerous studies have demonstrated a strong association between stress hyperglycemia and increased risk of poor clinical outcomes, including mortality, morbidity, length of hospital stay, infections and overall complications.

This study investigated the association of stress induced hyperglycemia following statin use in patients who had been hospitalized after a heart attack. The study included 476 patients who were divided into two groups based on the presence or absence of diabetes.

The study found:
(a) In patients without diabetes, statin users had a 98% increased risk of stress induced hyperglycemia compared to those not taking statins.
(b) In patients with diabetes, statin users had a 3% increased risk of stress induced hyperglycemia compared to those not taking statins.
(c) Patients with stress induced hyperglycemia had a 161% increased risk of heart failure compared to patients without stress induced hyperglycemia.
(d) Patients with stress induced hyperglycemia had a 253% increased risk of dying in hospital compared to patients without stress induced hyperglycemia.

Yan concluded: "Statins are related to higher stress hyperglycemia and cardiac incidences after acute myocardial infarction."

Links to other studies:
Review reveals statins only extend life by 3 or 4 days. Closer analysis finds they may actually shorten life.
Statins double the risk of death in patients with coronary artery disease
Statins increase the risk of death in four year trial

Medical error is responsible for over a quarter of a million deaths and is the third most common cause of death in the US

noreply@blogger.com (David Evans) — Wed, 11 May 2016 05:48:00 +0000

2016 May 3;353:i2139

Study title and authors:

Medical error-the third leading cause of death in the US.

Makary MA, Daniel M.

Department of Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27143499

This study analyzed the scientific literature on medical error to identify its contribution to US deaths. Four studies were found and comprised of the following:

(i) A 2004 report of inpatient deaths associated with the Agency for Healthcare Quality and Research Patient Safety Indicators in the Medicare population estimated that 575 000 deaths were caused by medical error between 2000 and 2002.

(ii) The US Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General examining the health records of hospital inpatients in 2008, reported 180,000 deaths due to medical error a year among Medicare beneficiaries alone.

(iii) Classen (2004) et al estimated over 400,000 deaths a year.

(iv) Landrigan et al (2002) estimated 134,581 inpatient deaths a year from poor inpatient care.

Of note, none of the studies captured deaths outside inpatient care—those resulting from errors in care at home or in nursing homes and in outpatient care such as ambulatory surgery centres.

A literature review by James (2013) estimated preventable adverse events, described an incidence range of 210,000-400,000 deaths a year associated with medical errors among hospital patients.

This analysis found:

(a) In 2013 this study estimated the rate of death from medical error of 251,454 a year using the studies reported since 1999.

(b) The authors believe this understates the true incidence of death due to medical error because the studies cited rely on errors extractable in documented health records and include only inpatient deaths.

Makary concluded: "Medical error is the third most common cause of death in the US"

Study stopped early because statins increased the risk of acute kidney injury in patients with kidney disease

noreply@blogger.com (David Evans) — Sun, 08 May 2016 10:28:00 +0000

2016 Mar 1;315(9):877-88

Study title and authors:

High-Dose Perioperative Atorvastatin and Acute Kidney Injury Following Cardiac Surgery: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Billings FT 4th, Hendricks PA, Schildcrout JS, Shi Y, Petracek MR, Byrne JG, Brown NJ.

Department of Anesthesiology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26906014

This study investigated the relationship between short-term high-dose perioperative atorvastatin and acute kidney injury following cardiac surgery. The study included 615 patients (199 statin-naïve and 416 statin-using) and 308 of these were randomized to atorvastatin and 307 to placebo. The average patient age was 67 years.
(i) Patients naive to statin treatment were randomly assigned 80 mg of atorvastatin the day before surgery, 40 mg of atorvastatin the morning of surgery, and 40 mg of atorvastatin daily following surgery or matching placebo.
(ii) Patients already taking a statin prior to study enrolment continued taking the preenrollment statin until the day of surgery, were randomly assigned 80 mg of atorvastatin the morning of surgery and 40 mg of atorvastatin the morning after or matching placebo, and resumed taking the previously prescribed statin on postoperative day 2.

The study found:
(a) After an interim review, the data and safety monitoring board recommended stopping the group naive to statin treatment due to a 235% increased risk of acute kidney injury among these participants with chronic kidney disease receiving atorvastatin.
(b) After a further review, the data and safety monitoring board later recommended stopping for futility, as the data revealed statins were increasing the risk of acute kidney injury by 6% overall and by 61% in statin naïve patients.
(c) Those who took statins had a 25% increased risk of the more serious stage 2 or stage 3 acute kidney injury compared to those who did not take statins.

The study also revealed:
(d) Those given the statins had a 20% increased risk of muscle pain compared to those taking placebo.
(e) Those given the statins had a 44% increased risk of stroke compared to those taking placebo.
(f) Those given the statins had a 11% increased risk of atrial fibrillation compared to those taking placebo.
(g) Those given the statins had a 202% increased risk of in hospital death compared to those taking placebo.

Links to other studies:
Statins increase the risk of diabetes in kidney transplant patients
Statin use is associated with a 30-36% increased incidence of acute and chronic kidney disease
Statin use associated with a 59% increased risk of kidney failure

Statin treatment associated with depleted levels of coenzyme Q10 and cytochrome oxidase

noreply@blogger.com (David Evans) — Sun, 01 May 2016 19:49:00 +0000

2009 Jan;19(1):44-50

Study title and authors:

Decreased ubiquinone availability and impaired mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase activity associated with statin treatment.

Duncan AJ, Hargreaves IP, Damian MS, Land JM, Heales SJ.

Department of Molecular Neuroscience, UCL Institute of Neurology, London WC1N 1BG, UK.

This paper can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19778232

This study investigated the involvement of statins in impaired cellular energy production. Mitochondria are the cells power plants, and coenzyme Q10 (ubiquinone) and cytochrome oxidase (complex IV) are vital enzymes needed in cellular energy production.

In a study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, coenzyme Q10 (ubiquinone) was shown to lower cardiovascular deaths by 43% and lower the overall death rate by 42%.

Cytochrome oxidase (Complex 4) deficiency is a condition that can affect several parts of the body, including the muscles used for movement (skeletal muscles), the heart, the brain, or the liver. Cytochrome oxidase deficiency can lead to muscle weakness (myopathy), poor muscle tone (hypotonia), severe brain dysfunction (encephalomyopathy). Approximately one quarter of individuals with cytochrome oxidase deficiency have a type of heart disease that enlarges and weakens the heart muscle (hypertrophic cardiomyopathy). Another possible feature of this condition is an enlarged liver, which may lead to liver failure. Most individuals with cytochrome c oxidase deficiency have a buildup of a chemical called lactic acid in the body (lactic acidosis), which can cause nausea and an irregular heart rate, and can be life-threatening. Many people with cytochrome oxidase deficiency have a loss of mental function, movement problems, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, eating difficulties, and brain abnormalities. Cytochrome oxidase deficiency is frequently fatal in childhood.

(i) Two patients experiencing muscle problems following treatment with simvastatin (40 mg per day) and cyclosporin (patient 1) and simvastatin (40 mg per day) and itraconazole (patient 2).
(ii) Analysis of the two patients skeletal muscle revealed a decreased ubiquinone status (77 and 132; reference range: 140-580 pmol/mg) and decreased complex IV activity (0.006 and 0.007 reference range: 0.014-0.034).
(iii) To assess statin treatment in the absence of possible pharmacological interference from cyclosporin or itraconazole, primary astrocytes (cells from the central nervous system) were cultured with lovastatin.
(iv) Lovastatin treatment resulted in a decrease in ubiquinone (statin treatment 97.9 versus control 202.9 pmol/mg), and a decrease in complex IV activity (statin treatment 0.008 versus control: 0.011).

Duncan concludes: "These data, coupled with the patient findings, indicate a possible association between statin treatment, decreased ubiquinone status, and loss of complex IV activity".

List of some drugs that may cause side effects when coadministered with statins

noreply@blogger.com (David Evans) — Sun, 24 Apr 2016 20:07:00 +0000

2001 Nov 5;175(9):486-9

Study title and author:
Statin-associated myopathy.

Hamilton-Craig I.
North Adelaide Cardiac Clinic, SA. admin@medped-aust.com

This paper can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11758079

Dr Hamilton-Craig notes that myopathy (muscle disease) can be caused by all statins.

In this review he finds:
(a) The risk of myopathy is increased by: the use of high doses of statins, concurrent use of fibrates, concurrent use of hepatic cytochrome P450 inhibitors, acute viral infections, major trauma, surgery, hypothyroidism and other conditions.
(b) Cytochrome P450 are enzymes that give protection against potential toxicity from the foods and drugs (including statins) that we ingest by breaking down and eliminating the toxic substance. These enzymes are found primarily within liver cells as well as many other cell types. Cytochrome P450 inhibitors inhibit the effectiveness of cytochrome P450 enzymes and thereby increase the levels of statins in the body which leads to increased toxicity and more side effects. Cytochrome P450 inhibitors include: Amiodarone; (Cordarone), Azole Antifungals; Fluconazole (Diflucan), Itraconazole (Sporanox), Ketoconazole (Nizoral), Posaconazole (Noxafil, Posanol), Voriconazole (Vfend), Calcium Channel Blockers; (Amlodipine, Diltiazem, Verapamil), Cyclosporine; (Neoral), Danazol; (Cyclomen), Dronedarone (Multaq), Fibric Acid Derivatives; (Fenofibrate, Gemfibrozil), Glyburide; Grapefruit/Grapefruit Juice; Macrolide Antibiotics; Clarithromycin (Biaxin), Erythromycin, Nefazodone; Phenytoin; (Dilantin), Protease Inhibitors; Atazanavir (Reyataz), Boceprevir (Victrelis), Darunavir (Prezista), Fosamprenavir (Lexiva, Telzir), Indinavir (Crixivan), Lopinavir/Ritonavir (Kaletra), Nelfinavir (Viracept), Ritonavir (Norvir), Saquinavir (Invirase), Telaprevir (Incivek), Tipranavir (Aptivus), Ranolazine (Ranexa), Telithromycin (Ketek),
Ticagrelor (Brilinta).
(c) Statin-associated myopathy should be suspected when a statin-treated patient complains of unexplained muscle pain, tenderness or weakness.
(d) Statin therapy should be stopped in cases of suspected myopathy.

"Recovered" unpublished data reveals that lowering cholesterol levels increase the risk of death by 22%

noreply@blogger.com (David Evans) — Sun, 17 Apr 2016 08:57:00 +0000

2016 Apr 12;353:i1246

Study title and authors:
Re-evaluation of the traditional diet-heart hypothesis: analysis of recovered data from Minnesota Coronary Experiment (1968-73).

Ramsden CE, Zamora D, Majchrzak-Hong S, Faurot KR, Broste SK, Frantz RP, Davis JM, Ringel A, Suchindran CM, Hibbeln JR.
USA Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Program on Integrative Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA Chris.Ramsden@nih.gov.

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27071971

The objective of this study was to review the findings (by analysing unpublished "recovered" data from the original study investigators) of the Minnesota Coronary Experiment. The Minnesota Coronary Experiment was a double blinded, parallel group, randomized controlled dietary intervention trial conducted between 1968 - 1973, and was to designed to prove that increasing the polyunsaturated fat, (linoleic acid), and decreasing saturated fat in the diet would reduce cardiovascular events and deaths. It was the largest (9,570 participants, aged 20-97 years) and perhaps the most rigorously executed dietary trial of cholesterol lowering by replacement of saturated fat with vegetable oil rich in linoleic acid.

In the study participants were recruited from mental hospitals or nursing homes in the Minnesota area. They were divided into two groups:
(1) The intervention diet group had their dietary saturated fat cut in half (from 18.5% to 9.2% of calories) and their polyunsaturated linoleic fat intake massively increased from 3.4% to 13.2% of calories (a 280% increase).
(2) The control diet group did not change their saturated fat intake but did increase polyunsaturated linoleic acid intake from 3.4% to 4.7% of calories.

The "recovered" data, included previously unpublished records of serum cholesterol and autopsy reports and an extensive collection of study documents.

Using the "recovered" data the study found:
(i) The intervention group had significant reduction in cholesterol levels of 13.8%.
(ii) The control group had a small reduction in cholesterol levels of 1%.
(iii) A 30 mg/dL (0.78 mmol/L) decrease in cholesterol levels was associated with 22% higher risk of death from any cause.
(iv) Autopsy reports showed that participants in the intervention diet group had a 90% increased risk of a heart attack compared to participants in the control diet group.

The researchers also did a systematic review of the scientific literature and identified five randomized controlled trials that provided vegetable oil(s) rich in linoleic acid in place of saturated fat. These five trials included 10,808 participants. The average change in cholesterol levels in the course of the randomized controlled trials ranged from 7.8% to 13.8% lower in the intervention versus control groups.

The review of the five trials found:
(v) Those in the (low cholesterol) intervention groups had a 13% increased risk of death from coronary heart disease compared to those in the higher cholesterol control groups.
(vi) Those in the (low cholesterol) intervention groups had a 7% increased risk of death from all causes compared to those in the higher cholesterol control groups.

The above investigators also "recovered" unpublished data from the Sydney Diet Heart Study (1966-73) where the results of the trial was not fully reported. Ramsden commented: "Our recovery and 2013 publication of previously unpublished data from the Sydney Diet Heart Study (SDHS, 1966-73) belatedly showed that replacement of saturated fat with vegetable oil rich in linoleic acid significantly increased the risks of death from coronary heart disease and all causes, despite lowering serum cholesterol."

Critical points arise from this study:
(1) Key findings from landmark randomized controlled trials including the Sydney Diet Heart Study and the Minnesota Coronary Experiment were not fully published.
(2) Participants who had greater reductions in cholesterol levels had a higher, rather than lower, risk of death.

The question must be asked: "Why did the original investigators suppress this information?"

Is it because the results of the studies were clearly at odds with their beliefs?

Ramsden concluded: "It is interesting to speculate whether complete publication of randomized controlled trial results might have altered key policy decisions promoting replacement of saturated fat with linoleic acid rich oils (such as the 1977 McGovern report and National Cholesterol Education Program (1984-85) or contributed to a shift in research priorities."

Healthy old people have high cholesterol

noreply@blogger.com (David Evans) — Wed, 13 Apr 2016 05:50:00 +0000

This study was published in the Japanese Journal of Clinical Medicine 2009 Jul;67(7):1343-7

Study title and authors:
Clues to the exceptional longevity --morbiditiy and functional status of Tokyo-area centenarians

Takayama M, Hirose N
Division of Geriatric Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Keio University School of Medicine.

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19591283

This study examined the association between various factors and physical & cognitive function in 302 people over a 100 years of age.

Regarding blood pressure and cholesterol levels, Takayama found that higher blood pressure, higher total cholesterol levels and higher high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were associated with better physical and cognitive function.

Takayama concluded: "This phenomenon might be one of the "centenarian paradox".

Dr Malcolm Kendrick will have a wry smile at yet another "health paradox."

Low cholesterol levels associated with a 528% increased risk of gastric cancer

noreply@blogger.com (David Evans) — Sat, 09 Apr 2016 05:58:00 +0000

2016 Jan 28;6:19930

Study title and authors:
Apolipoprotein E epsilon 2 allele and low serum cholesterol as risk factors for gastric cancer in a Chinese Han population.

Kang R, Li P, Wang T, Li X, Wei Z, Zhang Z, Zhong L, Cao L, Heckman MG, Zhang YW, Xu H, Huang C, Bu G, Chen XF.
Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Disease and Aging Research, Institute of Neuroscience, Medical College, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China.

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26817942

One of the aims of this study was to evaluate the association between cholesterol levels and gastric cancer. The study included 550 gastric cancer patients and 550 cancer free control individuals.

Regarding cholesterol levels, the study found:
(a) Those with the lowest cholesterol levels (less than 4.29 mmol/L (165 mg/dL)) had a 528% increased risk of gastric cancer compared to those with the highest cholesterol levels (more than 5.75 mmol/L (222 mg/dL).
(b) Those with the lowest HDL cholesterol levels (less than 1.08 mmol/L (41 mg/dL)) had a 499% increased risk of gastric cancer compared to those with the highest HDL cholesterol levels (more than 1.63 mmol/L (63 mg/dL).
(c) Those with the lowest LDL cholesterol levels (less than 2.71 mmol/L (104 mg/dL)) had a 54% increased risk of gastric cancer compared to those with the highest LDL cholesterol levels (more than 3.97 mmol/L (153 mg/dL).

Kang concluded: "In summary, our study confirmed the associations of lower levels of serum cholesterol with the incidence of gastric cancer."

Links to other studies:
High cholesterol levels reduce the risk of stomach cancer
Low cholesterol is an independent risk factor for developing gastric cancer
Low HDL cholesterol levels increase the risk of gastric cancer

Pleurisy induced by atorvastatin

noreply@blogger.com (David Evans) — Mon, 04 Apr 2016 19:53:00 +0000

2016 Mar 15. pii: S0761-8425(16)00054-1

Study title and authors:
Pleurisy induced by atorvastatin
Mansour Y, Masson P, Gourdier AL, Gagnadoux F, Trzepizur W.
Département de pneumologie, centre hospitalier universitaire d'Angers, 4, rue Larrey, 49033 Angers cedex 9, France.

This paper can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26992330

Pleurisy is an inflammation of the pleura, which is the moist, double-layered membrane that surrounds the lungs and lines the rib cage. The condition can make breathing extremely painful. Sometimes it is associated with another condition called pleural effusion, in which excess fluid fills the area between the membrane's layers.

This paper reported the case of a man who developed pleural effusions after taking atorvastatin.
(i) An 84-year-old man sought medical attention for pleural effusions around both lungs.
(ii) He had started to take atorvastatin two years previously.
(iii) Investigations found no other cause could be found for the pleural effusions.
(iv) He stopped taking the statin and all his symptoms rapidly disappeared.
(v) He accidentally started to take atorvastatin again which resulted in recurrence of his symptoms, reinforcing the hypothesis that atorvastatin was responsible for this pleural effusion.

Links to other studies:
Statins induce pneumonia
Link between statin use and interstitial lung disease
Doctor says statin drug hypersensitivity reactions are potentially life-threatening

Statin use associated with a 27% increased risk of diabetes in heart attack and angina patients

noreply@blogger.com (David Evans) — Tue, 29 Mar 2016 06:57:00 +0000

2016 Mar 15. pii: S1499-2671(15)30026-5

Study title and authors:
Statin Use and the Risk for Incident Diabetes Mellitus in Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome after Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: A Population-Based Retrospective Cohort Study in Taiwan.

Lin ZF, Wang CY, Shen LJ, Hsiao FY, Lin Wu FL.
School of Pharmacy, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan;

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26992286

Acute coronary syndrome is a term given to various heart conditions, including a heart attack and unstable angina. These conditions are due to there being a reduced amount of blood flowing to a part of the heart.

Percutaneous coronary intervention, or coronary angioplasty is a procedure to unblock a coronary artery.

The purpose of the study was to examine the association between statin use and the risk for diabetes in patients with acute coronary syndrome following percutaneous coronary intervention. The study include 9,043 statin users and 9,043 non-statin users.

The study found:
(a) Statin use was associated with a significant increase of 27% in the risk for new-onset diabetes compared to non-statin use.
(b) Almost all types of statins were associated with a statistically significant increase in the risk for new-onset diabetes compared to those without statin use.

Lin concluded: "Our study indicated an association between increased risk for new-onset diabetes mellitus and statin use."

Links to other studies:
Atorvastatin associated with an increased death rate in diabetic patients
Statins increase the risk of diabetes by 48%
Statin use is associated with accelerated artery calcification in type two diabetes

Statins associated with a 54% increased risk of brain haemorrhage. Higher cholestreol levels associated with reduced risk

noreply@blogger.com (David Evans) — Fri, 25 Mar 2016 04:23:00 +0000

2016 Mar 21. pii: jnnp-2015-312736

Study title and authors:
Serum cholesterol levels, HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors and the risk of intracerebral haemorrhage. The Multicenter Study on Cerebral Haemorrhage in Italy (MUCH-Italy).

Pezzini A, Grassi M, Iacoviello L, Zedde M, Marcheselli S, Silvestrelli G, DeLodovici ML
Dipartimento di Scienze Cliniche e Sperimentali, Clinica Neurologica, Università degli Studi di Brescia, Brescia, Italia.

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27003275

This study investigated the effects between cholesterol levels and statins on the risk of intracerebral haemorrhage (where blood suddenly bursts into brain tissue, causing damage to the brain). The study included 3,492 patients with intracerebral haemorrhage, (average age 73 years), who were compared with 3,492 control subjects.

The study found:
(a) Each .26 mmol/l (10 mg/dL) increase in cholesterol levels was associated with a 13% decreased risk of intracerebral haemorrhage.
(b) Statin users had a 54% increased risk of intracerebral haemorrhage compared to nonusers.

Links to other studies:
Patients taking statins after a stroke have a 68% increased risk of suffering another stroke
Statins increase the incidence of liver damage
Statins associated with increased bleeding in the brain in patients with intracerebral hemorrhage

Statin use associated with a 93% increased risk of diabetes

noreply@blogger.com (David Evans) — Sun, 20 Mar 2016 08:41:00 +0000

2016 Mar 15

Study title and authors:
Long-Term Outcomes of Short-Term Statin Use in Healthy Adults: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Mansi IA, English J, Zhang S, Mortensen EM, Halm EA.
Medicine Services, VA North Texas Health Care System, 4500 S. Lancaster Rd #111E, Dallas, TX, 75216, USA. Ishak.Mansi@va.gov.

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26979831

The objective of the study was to examine the associations of short-term statin use (less than one year) with adverse events and cardiovascular outcomes in 'healthy' people. The study matched 1,525 statin users to 1,525 nonusers who were followed for six years.
(i) Statin users used statins for 90-365 days during 2005 as their only prescription medication.
(ii) Nonusers had medical encounters but did not receive prescription medications during 2005, and did not receive any statins throughout the study period.

The study found:
(a) Statin users had a 93% increased risk of developing diabetes compared to nonusers.
(b) Statin users had a 115% increased risk of developing diabetic complications compared to nonusers.
(c) Statin users had a 17% increased risk of suffering major acute cardiovascular events compared to nonusers.

Mansi concluded: "Short-term statin use for primary prevention in this healthy cohort was associated with an increased risk of long-term diabetes and diabetic complications without cardiovascular benefits."

Links to other studies:
Statin use associated with a 101% increased risk of diabetes
Statins increase the risk of diabetes by 46%
Statin use is associated with an increased risk of type two diabetes, which increases with longer duration of use

Statin treatment leads to worse outcome for patients in an intensive care unit

noreply@blogger.com (David Evans) — Tue, 15 Mar 2016 08:08:00 +0000

2011;15(1):R74

Study title and authors:
Statins do not prevent acute organ failure in ventilated ICU patients: single-centre retrospective cohort study.

Terblanche MJ, Pinto R, Whiteley C, Brett S, Beale R, Adhikari NK.
Critical Care & Anaesthesia Research Group, King's College London, St Thomas' Hospital, Westminster Bridge Road, London SE1 7EH, UK. marius.terblanche@kcl.ac.uk

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21356051

This 15 day study analysed the effects of statins on ventilated intensive care unit patients. The study included 1,397 mechanically ventilated patients without nonrespiratory organ failure within 24 hours after admission. The overall lengths of intensive care unit and hospital stays were five and 15 days, respectively. Patients receiving statins stayed longer in the intensive care unit by three days.

The study found:
(a) Patients taking statins had a 22% increased risk of organ failure compared to patients not taking statins.
(b) Patients taking statins had a 25% increased risk of liver failure compared to patients not taking statins.
(c) Patients taking statins had an 8% increased risk of liver impairment compared to patients not taking statins.
(d) In the intensive care unit setting, patients taking statins had an 0.7% increased risk of death compared to patients not taking statins.
(e) In the hospital setting, patients taking statins had an 19% increased risk of death compared to patients not taking statins.

Statin treatment leads to worse outcomes for patients in an intensive care unit.

Links to other studiers:
Statins increase the risk of liver damage
Statin users have a 26% increased risk of liver function test abnormalities
Acute hepatitis induced by lovastatin

Statins significantly lower testosterone levels

noreply@blogger.com (David Evans) — Sun, 13 Mar 2016 05:00:00 +0000

2015 Aug;173(2):155-65

Study title and authors:
Use of statins is associated with lower serum total and non-sex hormone-binding globulin-bound testosterone levels in male participants of the Rotterdam Study.

de Keyser CE, de Lima FV, de Jong FH, Hofman A, de Rijke YB, Uitterlinden AG, Visser LE, Stricker BH.
Department of EpidemiologyErasmus Medical Center, PO Box 2040, 3000CA Rotterdam

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26034077

Low testosterone is associated with an increase in heart disease and death rates, see here. Testosterone not bound to sex hormone-binding globulin (non-sex hormone-binding globulin-bound testosterone) is an indicator of biologically available Testosterone.

The objective of the study was to investigate the association between the use of statins and testosterone levels in men. The study included 4,166 men, average age 64 years.

The study found:
(a) Current users of statins had significantly lower total testosterone levels compared to non-users.
(b) Current users of statins had significantly lower non-sex hormone-binding globulin-bound testosterone levels compared to non-users.

de Keyser concluded: "We showed that current use of statins was associated with significantly lower serum total and non-sex hormone-binding globulin-bound testosterone levels."

Links to other studies:
Statins increase the risk of erectile dysfunction by 51%
Ladies: No need to feign a headache - just give your man a statin!
Statins unequivocally associated with lower levels of testosterone

Low cholesterol may be a indicator of risk for cognitive impairment in the elderly

noreply@blogger.com (David Evans) — Fri, 11 Mar 2016 07:21:00 +0000

2016;20(3):280-7

Study title and authors:
Serum Cholesterol Levels within the High Normal Range Are Associated with Better Cognitive Performance among Chinese Elderly.

Lv YB, Yin ZX, Chei CL, Brasher MS, Zhang J, Kraus VB, Qian F, Shi XM, Matchar DB, Zeng Y.
Dr. Xiaoming Shi, No. 7 Pan Jia Yuan Nan Li, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100021, China.

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26892577

The purpose of the study is to investigate the association of cholesterol levels with cognitive performance among the elderly. The study included a total of 2,000 elderly aged 65 years and over (average age 85.8 years).

The study found:
(a) Those with the highest cholesterol levels had a 27% decreased risk of cognitive impairment compared with those with the lowest cholesterol levels.
(b) Those with the highest levels of Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol had a 19% decreased risk of cognitive impairment compared with those with the lowest levels of Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol.
(c) Those with the highest levels of High Density Lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol had a 19% decreased risk of cognitive impairment compared with those with the lowest levels of High Density Lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol.

Dr Xiaoming Shi concluded: "Low cholesterol may serve a clinical indicator of risk for cognitive impairment in the elderly."

Links to other studies:
High cholesterol levels are associated with higher intelligence
High cholesterol levels boost memory function
Doctor concludes LDL cholesterol may be required to maintain or support memory function

Congenital abnormalities in baby born to mother using lovastatin

noreply@blogger.com (David Evans) — Thu, 10 Mar 2016 08:04:00 +0000

1992 Jun 6;339(8806):1416-7

Study title and authors:
Congenital abnormalities (VATER) in baby born to mother using lovastatin.

Ghidini A, Sicherer S, Willner J.

This paper can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1350826

This paper reports the case of an infant born with many malformations after the mother used a statin during pregnancy.

(i) A woman was treated for five weeks with lovastatin, starting approximately six weeks from her last menstrual period.
(ii) The statin was discontinued when her pregnancy was diagnosed at 11 weeks' gestation.
(iii) A female infant was delivered by cesarean section at 39 weeks' gestation. The infant had a constellation of malformations termed the VATER association (vertebral anomalies, anus not developed properly, an abnormal connection between the oesophagus and the trachea with part of the oesophagus missing, and kidney, forearm and wrist abnormalities).
(iv) Her anomalies included a deformed chest, spinal deformity, absent left thumb, foreshortened left forearm, shortened left elbow, fusion of the ribs on the left, anomalies in the spine, deformed left forearm, and a narrow lower oesophagus.