off topic/Cholesterol

[Guest guest]

I guess ldn is not alone when money is involved!

CHOLESTEROL'S SILVER BULLET Statins... statins... statins. They seem to be the drug of the early 21st century -- except for the "minor detail" that they may cause dangerous side effects. In meeting with Daily Health News contributing editor Rubman, ND, I learned about an all-natural option called policosanol. Tests have shown it to be just as effective in lowering cholesterol as statins but without the risks and at a far lower cost. (How does one-tenth the cost sound?) Talk about a silver bullet. WHAT IS POLICOSANOL AND WHAT DOES IT DO? Policosanol is a long-chain alcohol that is derived either from beeswax or from sugar-cane wax. It has been shown in randomized, double-blind studies to significantly lower overall cholesterol levels, and raise HDLs while lowering LDLs. It also reduces other cardiac risk factors, such as platelet clumping (blood clots), high blood pressure and atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries caused by a buildup of plaque inside the artery walls) -- all without the dangerous side effects of statins. An article in the American Heart Journal published in 2002 reported that policosanol "lowers total cholesterol by 17% to 21% and LDLs by 21% to 29%... and raises HDLs by 8% to 15%." And, in tests that were head-to-head vs. statins, policosanol won. This was at doses of 10 mg to 20 mg per day. The authors state that at higher doses, policosanol could be even more effective. Finally, the authors concluded that "policosanol seems to be a very promising phytochemical alternative to classic lipid-lowering agents, such as the statins, and deserves further evaluation." SO WHY ISN'T POLICOSANOL BEING PRESCRIBED IN AMERICA? The answer seems to be: Business as usual. Policosanol was developed in Cuba and our country doesn't do business with that country. Sugar cane 'waste products' such as policosanol are abundant and cheap. Yet the large drug companies, such as Pfizer, which makes the hugely profitable Lipitor, have a vested interest in policosanol not being available in America, particularly because it will be sold over-the-counter and for much cheaper. How much cheaper? Approximately 10 cents per 10 mg pill of policosanol compared with more than one dollar per pill for Lipitor, depending on the dose. This isn't just whining. The recent Associated Press news stories regarding FDA recommendations for expanded use of statins said, "Most of the heart disease experts who urged more people to take cholesterol-lowering drugs have made money from the companies selling those medicines." WHERE DO I GET POLICOSANOL? In spite of its place of origin, policosanol is available at US health-food stores and online, although it is not recommended as a do-it-yourself supplement. Some doctors are prescribing it, including Dr. J. Mann, a hypertension specialist and associate attending physician at New York-Presbyterian Hospital Weill Cornell Medical Center, and author of Healing Hypertension: A Revolutionary New Approach (Wiley). Dr. Mann has prescribed policosanol to a handful of his patients with very good results. "About 10% to 20% of people can't tolerate statins," he explains. He believes that policosanol is a very attractive alternative that deserves more study. Right now, there isn't enough long-term data to justify the use of policosanol as a first-line drug. There is no evidence yet that it prevents further heart attacks -- evidence that is abundant with statins. Until a study can prove that, statins will be the first choice for people at high risk. Louis Teichholz, MD, chief of cardiology and director of cardiac services at Hackensack University Medical Center in Hackensack, New Jersey, says that his hospital is involved in a randomized, double-blind, multicenter study to test the effectiveness of policosanol. The participants are tested for cholesterol levels and C-reactive protein levels (considered a predictive factor for heart attacks). The results will be available in five years. WHAT TO DO According to Dr. Mann, statin drugs have a proven record, tested over two decades, of lowering the risk for heart attack in people who are in danger. So far, he points out, policosanol has not shown that it can lower the incidents of heart attacks. However, my father used to tell me, "If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, then it's probably a duck." Policosanol has not yet had the extensive research that statins have had. However, it is well worth discussing with your doctor if he/she is concerned about your cholesterol levels.