Unexpected Benefits of Statin Drugs Found : LC Research/Media Forum : Active Low-Carber Forums

#1 ^

Fri, Sep-09-11, 17:14

Merpig

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Unexpected Benefits of Statin Drugs Found

From the NY Times (sent to me by a female friend of mine whom I've been trying to persuade to give up statins!): http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/06/h..._r=3&ref=health

Quote:

Statin drugs, proven effective for the prevention of heart attack and coronary heart disease, may reduce the risk for infectious disease as well, according to a new study.

Eight years ago, a clinical trial of atorvastatin (brand name Lipitor) for prevention of heart problems in people with high blood pressure was stopped as the benefits became obvious — a 35 percent reduction in relative risk of nonfatal heart attack and fatal coronary heart disease. Now, to the surprise of the researchers, the drug appears to reduce the risk for infections as well.

According to the new study, published last week in The European Heart Journal, those who took atorvastatin still had a 14 percent reduction in risk for all-cause mortality compared with the controls, even though the controls also started taking statins after the first trial was stopped. There was no significant difference in cardiovascular or cancer deaths, but there was a large reduction in deaths from infectious disease among those who had been taking statins the longest.

“The long-term benefit unexpectedly is not protection against heart disease and stroke, but against other illnesses that appear to be linked to infection,” said the lead author, Dr. Peter S. Sever, a professor of therapeutics at Imperial College London.

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#2 ^

Fri, Sep-09-11, 17:54

raven132

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Plan: LC Paleo
Stats: 211/177/140 Female 64 inches

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Location: Missouri

Hmm, it fails to mention the size of the study or any other specifics. I'm pretty skeptical about anything that appears to promote big pharma.

#3 ^

Fri, Sep-09-11, 18:58

WereBear

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Plan: EpiPaleo/Primal/LowOx
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Location: USA

I am unaware of any study that shows a benefit for WOMEN. this sounds like the cancer claims, or the Alzheimers claim; shown to be mistaken or wrong.

And even if it's true; is it worth the risk of ALS?

http://www.miller-mccune.com/health...uestions-27449/

Last edited by WereBear : Fri, Sep-09-11 at 19:04.

#4 ^

Fri, Sep-09-11, 20:51

jmh

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Location: Was in London, now in NZ

It's interesting that we are seeing a few of these other health claims for statins. I'm guessing they are looking very hard for other health benefits since they know that the data on heart disease is equivocal. I think they are trying to find more customers for their drug, and making sure they keep existing customers with as long a list as possible of other 'benefits' (even if your memory is so bad you can't remember what they are

) in case we all wake up and realise the emperor has no clothes on in terms of the heart disease/cholesterol theory.

Bad science heaped on bad science. Maybe we can look at the positive. Is this a sign that statin manufacturers are worried?

#5 ^

Fri, Sep-09-11, 22:44

Zei

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Quote:

There was no significant difference in cardiovascular or cancer deaths, but there was a large reduction in deaths from infectious disease among those who had been taking statins the longest.

Statins did nothing to prevent cardiovascular deaths. Yet isn't this the big reason people take statins? Expecting it will protect them, but it doesn't.

#6 ^

Sat, Sep-10-11, 03:58

WereBear

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Plan: EpiPaleo/Primal/LowOx
Stats: 220/130/150 Female 67

BF:
Progress: 129%

Location: USA

I feel for people like Debbie's friend. When we warn them about statins, we cast their own doctor in a bad light. Once upon a time, believing laypeople over medical people was foolish.

But that is where we are at.

#7 ^

Sat, Sep-10-11, 09:26

costello22 costello22 is offline

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Quote:

Originally Posted by jmh

Possibly they're looking for a way to extend their patent?

http://blogs.wsj.com/health/2008/06...eric-on-113011/

#8 ^

Sat, Sep-10-11, 11:44

M Levac

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Plan: VLC, mostly meat
Stats: 202/200/165 Male 5' 7"

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Location: Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Google for giggles:

Cholesterol Fights Infections

Note what I searched for. It was not "lowering cholesterol fights infections".

Call me cynical but I believe it's all about the money. I agree with costello.

#9 ^

Sat, Sep-10-11, 11:59

Thomas1492 Thomas1492 is offline

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Some may want to read this post by Dr.Barry Groves....
lowered cholesterol linked to infections

#10 ^

Sat, Sep-10-11, 12:12

M Levac

Senior Member

Posts: 6,498

Plan: VLC, mostly meat
Stats: 202/200/165 Male 5' 7"

BF:
Progress: 5%

Location: Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thomas1492

Some may want to read this post by Dr.Barry Groves....
lowered cholesterol linked to infections

I saw that. So more cholesterol in foods is better than less. Which foods have the most cholesterol?:

Foods Highest In Cholesterol

All meats. No plant.

#11 ^

Sat, Sep-10-11, 12:23

WereBear

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Plan: EpiPaleo/Primal/LowOx
Stats: 220/130/150 Female 67

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I dunno; artificially enforced lowering of a body substance found in every organ and vital for life...

What could possibly go wrong!?!?!?!?

#12 ^

Sun, Sep-11-11, 20:42

RawNut

Lipivore

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Plan: Very Low Carb Paleo
Stats: 270/185/180 Male 72 inches

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Location: Florida

Statins can work as vitamin D analogs so it's not surprising that they might have antimicrobial properties. See this post by Hutchinson in the Vitamin D thread: http://forum.lowcarber.org/showpost...8&postcount=250

It'd just take vitamin D.

#13 ^

Mon, Sep-12-11, 09:53

Seejay

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Plan: Optimal Diet
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Quote:

Originally Posted by WereBear

When we warn them about statins, we cast their own doctor in a bad light. Once upon a time, believing laypeople over medical people was foolish.

But that is where we are at.

This makes me sad too. I was just at a crochet meeting where three women were discussing how to get good deals to lower one's cost of Lipitor. These people have NO interest in nutrition as far as I can tell and would never even think to connect further physical problems back to the pills.

#14 ^

Mon, Sep-12-11, 12:35

RobLL

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Plan: generalized low carb
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BF:31%/14?%/12%
Progress: 125%

Location: Pacific Northwest

Statins are powerful drugs, and likely will be found to have some great uses. It is just that a lot of us don't like their side effects, and have found no evidence that lowering cholesterol helps. At this point they are a cure in search of a disease.