Statins stimulate atherosclerosis and heart failure: pharmacological mechanisms.

[tridim]

Nagoya City University and Institute for Consumer Science and Human Life, Kinjo Gakuin University

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.

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

This seems huge. What say you Big Pharma?

[PeoViejo]

1. My Body told me a long time ago

that Statins are Poison.

[tridim]

3. They're telling my Mom as well, but she still trusts her doctor 100%.

[Warpy]

2. I say that I have a few friends my age who would not be alive without them.

Parents and grandparents had all died in their 30s and 40s from stroke and heart disease. Once we developed a way to measure cholesterol load, we discovered that there is a population out there whose normal cholesterol readings even in childhood are >300 and often much higher, with family histories remarkable for early death from heart disease and stroke.

The statin drugs have been life savers for them.

Whether they are of any benefit to people with normal cholesterol but a history of either heart disease or stroke is still up for debate, a lot of it.

[still_one]

4. They have been life savers for a lot of people, but they are not for everyone

Different people react differently to meds

One person can take one antibiotic or hypertensive drug without issues, while it may not agree with someone else

I find it amazing that if one person reacts badly to a medication, they many times make the leap that it must be bad for everyone

There have been many studies on statins especially after a heart attack which show it's great value. There is also a slight risk of type ii diabetes with statins

Everyone reacts differently

[840high]

8. Statins are a life saver

for me.

[Chemisse]

5. Maybe that is why

what was hailed as a 'miracle drug' when it made its entrance has not actually reduced the numbers of deaths in the way that was expected:

Statins are effective for people with known heart disease. But for people who have less than a 20 percent risk of getting heart disease in the next 10 years, statins not only fail to reduce the risk of death, but also fail even to reduce the risk of serious illness — as shown in a recent BMJ article co-written by one of us.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/14/opinion/dont-give-more-patien

[SheilaT]

6. I am very conflicted about the usefulness of statins.

I've had high cholesterol for years, and a few months ago my doctor persuaded me to start with a very low dose. In a couple of months my cholesterol went from 313 to 197, which is pretty amazing. Next visit I may ask her if I can stop them for a few months and see what happens. I do not like the idea of being on medications all the time, even as I understand how completely necessary some of them are.

[Maru Kitteh]

15. It's not like taking an antibiotic,

which is to say, you can't take statins for a while and make your cholesterol "go away" in the same manner you take an antibiotic to clear an infection. Unless your diet and activity level is dramatically different than it was when you had high cholesterol, in the absence of statins, the high cholesterol will almost certainly return.

You mention you are on a low dose, presumably something like 20mg of simvistatin or something similar. Perhaps you could talk to your provider about cutting that in half. You may still see an acceptable reduction in your serum cholesterol while cutting the amount of medication you are taking and thereby preventing unwanted side effects like fatigue and muscle pain.

Just a thought.

Congrats on your lower numbers. May you enjoy continued health.

[SheilaT]

16. I'm taking atorvastatin, 20 mg.

I do not notice any side effects whatsoever. Although, come to think of it, I do seem slightly more tired than usual, but not drastically so. I don't currently have heart disease, but I am at somewhat high risk for it since it has run rampant in my family, both father and mother's side. However, the only sibling who has heart disease at this point (and the six of us range in age from 72 to 61) is a sister who smoked for a very long time. And all of the older generation all smoked, every one of them.

I will say I was very startled at the reduction in my cholesterol, since it's always been high, and the number has crept up over the years. I think I will ask if an even lower dose is possible.

[womanofthehills]

17. I got my cholesterol down from 307 to 215 with time release niacin

I just added panthetine to see if I can get it to drop more. You don't need toxic drugs to get your cholesterol down.

[BrotherIvan]

7. Now you've done it!

You will be chastised shortly.

[hedgehog]

9. Having read Good calories, Bad Calories and The Big Fat Surprise,

I think the entire chloresterol- heart disease connection is based on science that would be unacceptable today. As noted above, there may well be people for whom statins are a life saver. It's unfortunate that so many consider the case closed, because the majority may be needlessly medicated while the minority is neglected.

[Brainstormy]

10. agree

Cholesterol is not the cause of heart disease. But, like the false information on saturated fats, it will be a long time before that myth is undone. Particularly when Big Pharma has a vested interest in promulgating it.

[1monster]

11. Saving this for later study....

[grasswire]

12. bookmark

Big Pharma says "oops". Cash cow under attack.

[womanofthehills]

13. I got my cholesterol down from 307 to 220 without drugs

I researched what worked naturally for people on the web. I took timed released Niacin, Pantethine and L'arginine. My doc was pretty impressed and told me she is going to research Niacin.

I also eat really well - lots of organic vegetables and I love to juice vegetables.

[grasswire]

14. "going to research niacin"?

Wow. The M.D.s are way behind. Just last week I was in the E.R. for a spell of vertigo, and the cardiologist and the F.P. both tried to encourage me to take a statin for my borderline numbers. Neither had ever heard of the fact that cardio-vascular disease is caused by inflammation, not cholesterol, and were woefully out of date regarding recommendations. It's very sad.