Re: talking points regarding statin drugs.

[Guest guest]

I think you're overlooking something far more important as regards statin drugs.

What evidence is there that it is their CHOLESTEROL LOWERING effect that has any

benefit? Many very mainstream publications, including Time magazine in a cover

story, have suggested that it is instead their anti-inflammatory effects that

are protective against heart disease. Furthermore, since this benefit happens

whether the cholesterol is low, high, or normal, it really CAN'T be from its

cholesterol lowering effect.

The debate on cholesterol needs to happen, sure, but it's not really the main

point IMO with statin drugs. There are much less risky (and less expensive!)

ways to reduce inflammation than statins.

Christie

talking points regarding statin drugs.

ok, here's a starting point. sorry it's not too fleshy!

information from: http://www.westonaprice.org/know_your_fats/oiling.html

- studies that prompted the low-cholesterol " fad " were done on rabbits,

which are herbivores. people are not herbivores, and we can't expect the

results in a rabbit to be the results a human would have.

- in the studies that they did on humans - feeding one group a

low-cholesterol diet and another a high-cholesterol (meat/eggs/dairy) diet

- the low cholesterol group had significant deaths due to heart disease in

each trial, while the high-cholesterol group did not.

- the publications and studies promoting low-cholesterol for a healthy

heart were funded by the vegetable oil industry.

- although plenty of studies do exist that show that a low-cholesterol diet

is unhealthy, they were rarely publicized under pressure from the vegetable

oil industry and the AHA, which had already chosen its path.

- massive campaigns to convince doctors to promote vegetable oil and

low-cholesterol diets were funded by the vegetable oil industry.

- we should talk about the effects of a low-cholesterol diet: infertility,

cancer, failure to thrive in children,

- also, here's some *benefits* of traditional saturated fats:

Yet the scientific literature delineates a number of vital roles for

dietary saturated fats­they enhance the immune system, are necessary for

healthy bones, provide energy and structural integrity to the cells,

protect the liver and enhance the body's use of essential fatty acids.

Stearic acid, found in beef tallow and butter, has cholesterol lowering

properties and is a preferred food for the heart. As saturated fats are

stable, they do not become rancid easily, do not call upon the body's

reserves of antioxidants, do not initiate cancer, do not irritate the

artery walls. (for references, see page four of the above article)

- and some benefits of cholesterol:

It acts as a precursor to vital corticosteroids, hormones that help us deal

with stress and protect the body against heart disease and cancer; and to

the sex hormones like androgen, testosterone, estrogen and progesterone; it

is a precursor to vitamin D, a vital fat-soluble vitamin needed for healthy

bones and nervous system, proper growth, mineral metabolism, muscle tone,

insulin production, reproduction and immune system function; it is the

precursor to bile salts, which are vital for digestion and assimilation of

fats in the diet. Recent research shows that cholesterol acts as an

antioxidant. As an antioxidant, cholesterol protects us against free

radical damage that leads to heart disease and cancer. Cholesterol is the

body's repair substance, manufactured in large amounts when the arteries

are irritated or weak. Blaming heart disease on high serum cholesterol

levels is like blaming firemen who have come to put out a fire for starting

the blaze.

Cholesterol is needed for proper function of serotonin receptors in the

brain. Serotonin is the body's natural " feel-good " chemical. This explains

why low cholesterol levels have been linked to aggressive and violent

behavior, depression and suicidal tendencies.

Dietary cholesterol plays an important role in maintaining the health of

the intestinal wall, which is why low-cholesterol vegetarian diets can lead

to leaky gut syndrome and other intestinal disorders.

ok. at this point i'm going to stop, because i'm getting terribly upset and

discouraged. more later.

[Guest guest]

hmm. really really good point.

perhaps that should have been " talking points regarding cholesterol " !!

katja

At 01:08 PM 3/9/2004, you wrote:

>I think you're overlooking something far more important as regards statin

>drugs.

>

>What evidence is there that it is their CHOLESTEROL LOWERING effect that

>has any benefit? Many very mainstream publications, including Time

>magazine in a cover story, have suggested that it is instead their

>anti-inflammatory effects that are protective against heart disease.

>Furthermore, since this benefit happens whether the cholesterol is low,

>high, or normal, it really CAN'T be from its cholesterol lowering effect.

>

>The debate on cholesterol needs to happen, sure, but it's not really the

>main point IMO with statin drugs. There are much less risky (and less

>expensive!) ways to reduce inflammation than statins.

>

>Christie

> talking points regarding statin drugs.

>

>

>

> ok, here's a starting point. sorry it's not too fleshy!

>

> information from: http://www.westonaprice.org/know_your_fats/oiling.html

>

> - studies that prompted the low-cholesterol " fad " were done on rabbits,

> which are herbivores. people are not herbivores, and we can't expect the

> results in a rabbit to be the results a human would have.

>

> - in the studies that they did on humans - feeding one group a

> low-cholesterol diet and another a high-cholesterol (meat/eggs/dairy) diet

> - the low cholesterol group had significant deaths due to heart disease in

> each trial, while the high-cholesterol group did not.

>

> - the publications and studies promoting low-cholesterol for a healthy

> heart were funded by the vegetable oil industry.

>

> - although plenty of studies do exist that show that a low-cholesterol

> diet

> is unhealthy, they were rarely publicized under pressure from the

> vegetable

> oil industry and the AHA, which had already chosen its path.

>

> - massive campaigns to convince doctors to promote vegetable oil and

> low-cholesterol diets were funded by the vegetable oil industry.

>

> - we should talk about the effects of a low-cholesterol diet: infertility,

> cancer, failure to thrive in children,

>

> - also, here's some *benefits* of traditional saturated fats:

> Yet the scientific literature delineates a number of vital roles for

> dietary saturated fats­they enhance the immune system, are necessary for

> healthy bones, provide energy and structural integrity to the cells,

> protect the liver and enhance the body's use of essential fatty acids.

> Stearic acid, found in beef tallow and butter, has cholesterol lowering

> properties and is a preferred food for the heart. As saturated fats are

> stable, they do not become rancid easily, do not call upon the body's

> reserves of antioxidants, do not initiate cancer, do not irritate the

> artery walls. (for references, see page four of the above article)

>

> - and some benefits of cholesterol:

> It acts as a precursor to vital corticosteroids, hormones that help us

> deal

> with stress and protect the body against heart disease and cancer; and to

> the sex hormones like androgen, testosterone, estrogen and

> progesterone; it

> is a precursor to vitamin D, a vital fat-soluble vitamin needed for

> healthy

> bones and nervous system, proper growth, mineral metabolism, muscle tone,

> insulin production, reproduction and immune system function; it is the

> precursor to bile salts, which are vital for digestion and assimilation of

> fats in the diet. Recent research shows that cholesterol acts as an

> antioxidant. As an antioxidant, cholesterol protects us against free

> radical damage that leads to heart disease and cancer. Cholesterol is the

> body's repair substance, manufactured in large amounts when the arteries

> are irritated or weak. Blaming heart disease on high serum cholesterol

> levels is like blaming firemen who have come to put out a fire for

> starting

> the blaze.

>

> Cholesterol is needed for proper function of serotonin receptors in the

> brain. Serotonin is the body's natural " feel-good " chemical. This explains

> why low cholesterol levels have been linked to aggressive and violent

> behavior, depression and suicidal tendencies.

>

> Dietary cholesterol plays an important role in maintaining the health of

> the intestinal wall, which is why low-cholesterol vegetarian diets can

> lead

> to leaky gut syndrome and other intestinal disorders.

>

> ok. at this point i'm going to stop, because i'm getting terribly upset

> and

> discouraged. more later.

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>