| "All truth passes through three stages. | | | | considered to be normal, the more people |
| First, it is ridiculed. | | | | automatically become victims of the dreaded disease |
| Second, it is violently opposed. | | | | of "high cholesterol." Therefore, more people will be |
| Third, it is accepted as being self-evident." | | | | persuaded that they need to be taking a statin drug, |
| Arthur Schopenhauer | | | | and voilà, more profit for the manufacturers. |
| (1788 - 1860) | | | | When you consider the size of the profits already |
| What is the true cause of heart disease, and how | | | | received, let alone the potential profit from statin |
| can we truly reduce the risk of death? | | | | drugs over the next several years, the cholesterol |
| Atherosclerosis, or Coronary Artery Disease (CAD), is | | | | conspiracy is one of the largest money making |
| the leading cause of death in both men and women. | | | | schemes ever perpetrated on the world. |
| In the U.S. alone, there are more than one million | | | | In July 2004, the level of LDL cholesterol considered |
| heart attacks every year, one third of them resulting | | | | normal underwent another change. The new norm |
| in death. The majority of men and women currently | | | | plunged from 100 to 70, virtually doubling again the |
| have, or are actively developing, atherosclerosis. By | | | | number of people who are "infected" with the plague |
| age 20, most people already have a 15-25% | | | | of high cholesterol. Why, it's the epidemic of our time! |
| narrowing of their arteries due to plaque formation. | | | | Many enlightened people howled at this news, |
| By age 40, there is a 30-50% clogging of their | | | | wondering if the masses would ever wake up and |
| arteries. | | | | see who is behind this, and why. Why is the medical |
| In the beginning of the Twentieth Century, | | | | establishment ignoring the thousands of published |
| congestive heart disease (CHD) was mostly a result | | | | medical studies that show the beneficial effects of |
| of rheumatic fever, which was a childhood disease. | | | | nutritional supplements against heart disease? Why is |
| However by the year 1936 there was a dramatic | | | | the medical establishment down-playing the |
| change in the main cause of heart disease. | | | | dangerous and deadly side effects of statin drugs? |
| Cardiovascular disease caused by atherosclerosis, or | | | | The "updated" LDL cholesterol recommendations |
| plaque buildup, took first place as the primary cause | | | | were published in the July 2004 issue of the |
| of heart disease, making congestive heart failure a | | | | American Heart Association's publication, Circulation. A |
| distant second. | | | | panel from the National Heart, Lung and Blood |
| During the 1950's, the autopsies conducted on men | | | | Institute, a division of the National Institutes of |
| who died of heart disease that revealed | | | | Health, which is endorsed by the American College of |
| plaque-clogged arteries concluded that cholesterol | | | | Cardiology, and the American Heart Association, were |
| was the cause of hardening of the arteries | | | | the ones who actually pronounced the new |
| (atherosclerosis) and coronary artery disease. | | | | cholesterol level at which drugs should be prescribed. |
| Cholesterol, not calcium, was considered the "cause" | | | | Sounds pretty official and reliable if these powerful |
| of heart disease, despite plaque consisting of 95% | | | | medical institutions are backing up these |
| calcium and a relatively small percentage of | | | | recommendations, right? |
| cholesterol. By 1956 there were 600,000 deaths | | | | The fact is eight of the nine panel members making |
| annually from heart disease in the U.S. Of those | | | | the new LDL cholesterol recommendations were |
| 600,000, 90% were caused by atherosclerosis, or | | | | being paid by the statin-producing pharmaceutical |
| clogged arteries. In fewer than 25 years, the number | | | | companies. The panelists did not disclose their financial |
| one cause of death in the U.S. had changed | | | | conflict of interest. This information was uncovered |
| dramatically ...from congestive heart disease to | | | | by Newsday, a Long Island, New Yorknewspaper (D. |
| coronary artery disease. | | | | Ricks and R. Robins, Newsday, July 15, 2004). Seven |
| Because cholesterol was dubbed the "cause" of | | | | of the nine panelists have financial connections to |
| atherosclerosis, the effort to lower cholesterol by | | | | Pfizer, the makers of Lipitor®. Five of the nine |
| any means began in earnest. Both the food industry | | | | served as "consultants" to Pfizer. So, what did the |
| and the pharmaceutical industry seized upon this | | | | other two panelists do to deserve their money? |
| opportunity to cash in on a cholesterol-lowering | | | | Seven of the nine panelists also received money |
| campaign by creating foods and drugs that would | | | | from Merck, the producers of Zocor®, with four |
| supposedly save lives. Diets, such as the Prudent | | | | of them serving as "consultants" to the company. |
| Diet, were established to lower the amount of | | | | Eight of the panelists who made the |
| cholesterol intake from food. There was no doubt | | | | recommendations that would increase the prescribing |
| that both polyunsaturated oils and drugs reduced | | | | of statin drugs have received either research grants |
| cholesterol, but by 1966 it was also apparent that | | | | or honoraria from Pfizer, Merck, AstraZeneca, |
| lowering cholesterol did not translate into a reduced | | | | Novartis, Glaxo Smith Kline, Johnson & Johnson, |
| risk of death from heart disease. | | | | Bayer, and many other drug companies that produce |
| As there was so much money to be made from | | | | statin drugs. |
| pharmaceutical development, the campaign to | | | | You would think that with all the advertising and |
| produce cholesterol-lowering drugs kicked into high | | | | recommendations from medical experts on the |
| gear, despite the lack of evidence showing that the | | | | benefits of statin drugs, the medical community |
| lowering cholesterol reduced the risk of untimely | | | | would possess overwhelming evidence that the drugs |
| death from heart disease. | | | | reduce the risk of death from cardiovascular disease. |
| Heart disease kills 725,000 Americans annually, with | | | | A hint of some of the smoke and mirrors in the |
| women accounting for 2/3 or nearly 500,000 of | | | | pharmaceutical companies' advertising can be seen in |
| those deaths. After thirty years of | | | | their TV commercials. Read carefully the small print |
| cholesterol-lowering medications' failure to significantly | | | | on some of Crestor's® commercial advertising. |
| lower the death rate from cardiovascular disease, in | | | | Their commercial states how much it lowers LDL |
| 1987 a new and more dangerous class of drugs was | | | | cholesterol. However, in the same ad you can read, |
| unleashed upon the world: the "statin" drugs. | | | | "...Crestor® has not been shown to reduce the |
| Cholesterol-lowering statin drugs are now the | | | | risk of heart disease or heart attack." If so, then |
| standard of care that physicians are indoctrinated into | | | | why take it? Isn't the bottom line to prevent death? |
| prescribing to reduce cardiovascular disease. Are | | | | The system for reporting adverse effects from |
| statin drugs the best way to prevent heart attacks | | | | medications is tremendously flawed, so much so that |
| and death? | | | | many people are seriously harmed or killed by some |
| Before 1936 the most common type of heart | | | | medications before they are finally removed from |
| disease was congestive heart disease (CHD). It rarely | | | | the market. Most doctors do not know what |
| caused sudden death and could be treated with the | | | | symptoms or effects are due to the drug, what |
| drug digitalis. The incidence of CHD remained stable | | | | should be reported, or even to whom to report |
| until 1987, after which the incidence of the disease | | | | adverse effects. They assume that the research |
| skyrocketed. Interestingly, the timing of the | | | | that went into developing the drug has already |
| increased incidence of congestive heart disease | | | | identified all the effects and that a drug brought to |
| coincides with the introduction of cholesterol-lowering | | | | market is "safe." However, only one in twenty side |
| statin drugs. Could cholesterol-lowering statin drugs | | | | effects is ever reported to either hospital |
| have something to do with the weakening of heart | | | | administrators or the FDA. |
| muscles and the increased incidence of congestive | | | | Statin drugs block cholesterol production in the body |
| heart failure? We will see that lowering the body's | | | | by inhibiting the enzyme called HMG-CoA reductase in |
| co-enzyme Q10 levels, a side effect of statin drugs, | | | | the early steps of its synthesis in the mevalonate |
| does indeed increase the risk of muscle damage, | | | | pathway. Cholesterol is one of three end products in |
| including the muscles of the heart. | | | | the mevalonate chain. This same biosynthetic |
| Atherosclerosis is a disease characterized primarily by | | | | pathway is also used to create co-enzyme Q10, or |
| inflammation of the arterial lining caused by oxidative | | | | co-Q10, as well as dilochol. Therefore, one |
| damage from homocysteine, a toxic amino acid | | | | unfortunate consequence of statin drugs is the |
| intermediary found in everyone. Homocsyteine, in | | | | unintentional inhibition of both Co-Q10 and dilochol |
| combination with other free radicals and toxins, | | | | synthesis. |
| oxidizes arteries, LDL cholesterol, and triglycerides, | | | | The drug information insert of a statin drug states |
| which in turn releases C Reactive Protein (CRP) from | | | | that it lowers co-enzyme Q10 levels. Most doctors |
| the liver-a marker of an inflammatory response within | | | | have forgotten their biochemistry class in medical |
| the arteries. Inflammation (oxidation) is the beginning | | | | school, and forgotten about the importance of |
| of plaque buildup and ultimately, cardiovascular | | | | Co-Q10. Therefore they apparently are not |
| disease. Plaque, combined with the thickening of | | | | concerned about such a statement on the drug |
| arterial smooth muscles, arterial spasms, and clotting, | | | | labeling information sheet. They may even reassure |
| puts a person at a high risk of suffering heart attack | | | | their patients that lowering Co-Q10 is nothing to |
| or stroke. | | | | worry about, but at the same time warn them that |
| For years, doctors have hyper-focused on cholesterol | | | | the drug may cause liver damage and to have their |
| levels. First it was the total cholesterol; later the | | | | liver enzymes checked every three to six months to |
| focus became the ratio of "good" HDL cholesterol to | | | | make sure the drug isn't killing them. They do not |
| "bad" LDL cholesterol. In other words, how much of | | | | realize that it is the depletion of Co-Q10 that leads to |
| your cholesterol was good, and how much was bad? | | | | liver damage and death. |
| Of the two, the important parameter is the level of | | | | Ubiquinone, or co-enzyme Q10, is a critical cellular |
| HDL cholesterol, not LDL cholesterol. HDL, or | | | | nutrient created in the cell's mitochondria, the |
| high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, is responsible for | | | | "engines" that produce energy for the cell. |
| clearing out the LDL cholesterol that sticks to arterial | | | | Mitochondria use sugar, oxygen, and water to |
| walls. Exercise, vitamins, minerals, and other | | | | produce energy molecules known as ATP. Without |
| antioxidants, particularly the bioflavonoid and olive | | | | ATP cells could do nothing. Damaged tissues could |
| polyphenol antioxidants, increase HDL cholesterol | | | | not be repaired. Cells could not divide or produce or |
| levels and protect the LDL cholesterol from oxidative | | | | utilize proteins, enzymes, or hormones. Death of cells, |
| damage, and therefore do more to reduce the risk | | | | and indeed of the human body would occur if ATP |
| of heart disease than any medication ever could. | | | | could no longer be produced and utilized. Co-Q10 |
| There is nothing inherently bad about LDL cholesterol. | | | | functions within the mitochondria as an electron |
| LDL cholesterol is critical to maintain life. LDL | | | | carrier to cytochrome oxidase, our main respitory |
| cholesterol only becomes "bad" when it is damaged, | | | | enzyme, which helps turn oxygen and sugar into |
| or oxidized by free radicals. Only the damaged, or | | | | energy. The heart requires high levels of oxygen, |
| oxidized form of LDL cholesterol sticks to the arterial | | | | sugar, and Co-Q10 since it utilizes a lot of energy. A |
| walls to initiate the formation of plaque. | | | | form of Co-Q10 called ubiquinone is found in all cell |
| Let us look towards cigarette smoking for a simple | | | | membranes, where it plays a role in maintaining |
| example demonstrating that we really need to | | | | membrane integrity, so critical to nerve conduction |
| reduce oxidized LDL cholesterol to prevent | | | | and muscle contraction. Co-Q10 is also vital for the |
| atherosclerosis, as opposed to indiscriminately | | | | formation of elastin and collagen, which make up the |
| lowering LDL cholesterol with statin drugs. Everyone | | | | connective tissues of the skin, musculature, and the |
| knows that cigarette smoking increases the risk of | | | | cardiovascular system. |
| many chronic diseases, such as cancer, heart disease, | | | | The most common side effect of statin drugs is |
| and stroke. Smokers with normal levels of LDL | | | | muscle pain and weakness. In fact, many patients |
| cholesterol are at an even greater risk of developing | | | | who start on the statin drugs almost immediately |
| heart disease than a non-smoker who has elevated | | | | notice generalized fatigue and muscle weakness. This |
| levels of LDL cholesterol. Of course the reason why | | | | is due to the depletion of Co-Q10 needed to support |
| a smoker with normal levels of LDL cholesterol is at | | | | muscle function. Dr. Beatrice Golomb of San Diego, |
| greater risk of disease is because his LDL gets | | | | California, is currently conducting a series of studies |
| excessively oxidized. | | | | on statin side effects. The pharmaceutical industry |
| Cigarette smoke releases so many toxins and free | | | | insists that only 2-3% of patients get muscle aches |
| radicals that the LDL cholesterol, the triglycerides, and | | | | and cramps, when in fact in one study, Golomb found |
| the arterial walls are extensively oxidized. | | | | that 98% of patients taking Lipitor®, and |
| Homocysteine levels are also increased by cigarette | | | | one-third of the patients taking Mevacor® (a |
| smoking which further oxidizes LDL cholesterol and | | | | lower dose statin), suffered noticeable to significant |
| the arterial lining. Oxidation is the initiating cause of | | | | muscle problems. |
| atherosclerosis. Therefore, the more and longer one | | | | Some people on statin drugs lose coordination of |
| smokes, the more oxidative damage he sustains and | | | | their muscles. Some develop pain in their muscles, |
| the greater his risk of developing heart disease. The | | | | some are not able to write due to loss of fine motor |
| degree of oxidation directly corresponds to the risk | | | | skills. Many lose the strength to exercise. Others are |
| of heart disease. | | | | falling more frequently as their muscles give out, still |
| If you are not taking vitamins, minerals, and | | | | others have trouble sleeping due to muscle cramping |
| antioxidants then your LDL cholesterol is being | | | | and twitching. Even worse, many people are |
| oxidized, it is sticking to your arterial walls, and you | | | | experiencing most of these side effects. The |
| ARE developing heart disease EVEN IF YOUR | | | | problems are so numerous, it is difficult to list all the |
| CHOLESTEROL LEVELS ARE NORMAL! LDL | | | | symptoms people might experience. These problems |
| cholesterol starts sticking to arterial walls before the | | | | do not come from the "disease" of high cholesterol, |
| age of 5. | | | | but the disease of ignorance in prescribing these |
| Among the many free radicals that damage | | | | drugs. |
| cholesterol, triglycerides and the arterial lining is | | | | As we age, Co-Q10 levels decline naturally. From the |
| homocysteine, a toxic intermediate biochemical | | | | age of 20 to 80, Co-Q10 levels fall by nearly 50%. |
| produced during the conversion of the amino acid | | | | Along with the natural decline of Co-Q10, comes a |
| methionine into another important amino acid, | | | | natural decrease in energy and an increase in the risk |
| cysteine. Both methionine and cysteine are non-toxic, | | | | of heart disease, stroke, and cancer. If the natural |
| but homocysteine is very toxic to the lining of the | | | | decline of Co-Q10 levels increases the risk of fatigue, |
| arterial endothelium. Homocysteine oxidizes LDL | | | | cancer, heart disease, and stroke, would it not make |
| cholesterol, triglycerides and the arterial lining. | | | | sense that accelerating the decline of Co-Q10 levels |
| Homocysteine is an amino acid normally produced in | | | | with statin drugs would have the same effect? They |
| small amounts from the amino acid methionine. The | | | | do indeed! |
| normal role of homocysteine in the body is to control | | | | Demonstrating the importance of Co-Q10 to |
| growth and support bone and tissue formation. | | | | cardiovascular health, in a randomized, double blind, |
| However a problem arises when homocysteine levels | | | | placebo-controlled study of people either taking or |
| in the body are elevated, causing excessive damage | | | | not taking statin drugs, supplementation with Co-Q10 |
| to LDL cholesterol, as well as to arteries. | | | | reduced the risk of heart attacks and death in those |
| Furthermore, homocysteine actually stimulates | | | | with heart disease and prior heart attacks by 50%, |
| growth of arteriosclerotic plaque, which leads to | | | | regardless of whether they were on a statin drug or |
| heart disease. | | | | not. (Singh R, Neki N, Kartikey K, et al. Effect of |
| Thyroid hormone controls the level of homocysteine, | | | | coenzyme Q10 on risk of atherosclerosis in patients |
| but numerous factors play a role in the elevation of | | | | with recent myocardial infarction. Mol Cell Biochem. |
| homocysteine. Normal aging, kidney failure, smoking, | | | | 2003 Apr; 246(1-2):75-82.) |
| some medications, and industrial toxins all elevate | | | | Additionally, Co-Q10 was shown to increase blood |
| homocysteine levels. Interestingly, estrogen helps | | | | levels of vitamin E and significantly increase the levels |
| lower homocysteine. | | | | of protective HDL. As low HDL is a major risk factor |
| Homocysteine becomes elevated in the blood with a | | | | for heart disease, increasing it is a definite benefit. |
| deficiency of the B vitamins-B6, B12 and folic acid. | | | | Statin drugs were shown not to provide any benefit |
| Genetics also play a role. About 12% of the | | | | beyond that of supplementing with Co-Q10. Let me |
| population has an undetected defect requiring higher | | | | make this clear - in this study only the co-enzyme |
| levels of folic acid than the rest of population to help | | | | Q10 provided any benefit, not the drugs! |
| maintain homocysteine levels in a safe range (below | | | | Cardiologist Dr. Peter Langsjoen of East Texas |
| 6.5). Therefore if you have high homocysteine levels | | | | University reported the effects of Lipitor® |
| (> 7.0) even though you are taking supplemental B | | | | among 20 patients who started with completely |
| complex vitamins, then you may be among the 12% | | | | normal hearts. After six months on a low dose of 20 |
| who need more than 1000 mcg of folic acid per day. | | | | mg of Lipitor® per day, two thirds of the |
| In addition, betaine, also known as trimethylglycine | | | | patients started to show signs of heart failure, as |
| (TMG) lowers homocysteine. | | | | seen by abnormalities in the heart's filling phase. |
| Homocysteine is second only to cigarette smoking in | | | | According to Dr. Langsjoen, this malfunction is due to |
| its oxidative destruction. It causes small nicks or tears | | | | Co-Q10 depletion. Nine controlled trials using statin |
| in the arterial lining, while also oxidizing and damaging | | | | drugs in humans have been conducted thus far. Eight |
| LDL cholesterol. The damaged, or oxidized LDL | | | | of these showed significant statin-induced Co-Q10 |
| cholesterol sticks to the homocysteine-damaged | | | | depletion leading to a decline in left ventricular |
| areas of the arterial lining. The combination of | | | | function and other biochemical imbalances. |
| oxidized LDL cholesterol and a damaged arterial lining | | | | In the United States, the incidence of heart attacks |
| is what causes LDL cholesterol to stick to the | | | | over the past ten to fifteen years has declined |
| arteries, whether or not the LDL cholesterol level is | | | | slightly. But congestive heart failure and |
| normal. | | | | cardiomyopathy have risen alarmingly. Is it a |
| Cholesterol-lowering statin drugs are the standard for | | | | coincidence that statin drugs were first marketed in |
| treating high cholesterol. This is dogma, and anyone | | | | 1987, and then from 1989 to 1997, deaths from |
| who states otherwise is committing medical heresy. | | | | congestive heart failure more than doubled? 38 It |
| Many people find it hard to believe that | | | | scares me that virtually all patients with heart failure |
| pharmaceutical companies could ever succeed in | | | | are put on statin drugs, even if their cholesterol is |
| paying medical researchers, medical associations, and | | | | already low. In my opinion, the worst thing to do for |
| doctors to recommend something detrimental to our | | | | a failing heart is take a statin drug. The best thing is |
| health. | | | | to take is a full range of quality nutritional |
| Most people do not know that pharmaceutical | | | | supplements, ...vitamins, minerals, fish oil, and other |
| companies fund medical institutions, medical education, | | | | antioxidants, including Co-Q10. |
| medical conferences, and still reward doctors and | | | | Various antioxidants work synergistically, each |
| research institutions for providing favorable results on | | | | contributing to the fight against free radicals in |
| their drugs. Likewise, pharmaceutical companies often | | | | different areas and in different ways. In the blood |
| suppress negative results from studies done on their | | | | stream, water-soluble antioxidants, such as vitamin C, |
| drugs. Money has the power to sweep negative | | | | and grape seed extract come in contact with and |
| results and serious side effects under the rug. Money | | | | neutralize free radicals before they damage |
| has the power to influence the FDA to decide which | | | | LDL-cholesterol. Other antioxidants saturate arterial |
| drugs make it to market and which drugs become | | | | walls and other tissues, and protect collagen and |
| the "standard" of treatment. | | | | elastic fibers from free radical damage, reducing |
| Former editor of the New England Journal of Medicine | | | | inflammation and plaque formation. The fat-soluble |
| (NEJM), Dr. Marcia Angell, warned of the problem of | | | | antioxidants, vitamin E, beta carotene, and |
| commercializing scientific research in her outgoing | | | | co-enzyme Q10 ride along in the blood fat |
| editorial titled "Is Academic Medicine for Sale?" Angell | | | | (triglycerides) and LDL cholesterol, protecting them |
| called for stronger restrictions on pharmaceutical | | | | and the endothelium from oxidation. Vitamin E sits on |
| stock ownership and other financial incentives for | | | | the surface of LDL cholesterol, protecting it from |
| researchers. She said that growing conflicts of | | | | free radical damage. Beta carotene, grape seed |
| interest were tainting science, warning "When the | | | | extract and olive extract penetrate deeper inside the |
| boundaries between industry and academic medicine | | | | LDL cholesterol and arterial walls, adding more |
| become as blurred as they are now, the business | | | | protection from oxidation. Quercetin and alpha lipoic |
| goals of industry influence the mission of medical | | | | acid work through nitrous oxide pathways to reduce |
| schools in multiple ways." She did not discount the | | | | high blood pressure, a major risk factor for heart |
| benefits of research but said, "a Faustian bargain" | | | | disease. |
| now existed between medical schools and the | | | | A report published in the Archives of Internal |
| pharmaceutical industry. Angell left the NEJM in June | | | | Medicine in 2005 looked at 97 double-blind controlled |
| 2000 and has written a book, "The Truth About the | | | | studies comparing the efficacy of cholesterol-lowering |
| Drug Companies: How They Deceive Us and What to | | | | statin drugs to fish oil. They found that |
| Do About It." | | | | cholesterol-lowering statin drugs reduced the risk of |
| Two years later, in June 2002, the NEJM announced | | | | death from heart disease by only 13%, andinteresting |
| that it was going to begin accepting articles that | | | | enough it was NOT due to the effect of lowering |
| were written by biased researchers, as there weren't | | | | cholesterol. The benefits, although small, were |
| enough unbiased researchers left to write articles. In | | | | derived from the fact that statin drugs have a slight |
| other words, most research institutions were now | | | | antioxidant effect. |
| funded by one or more of the numerous | | | | Even more interesting, the salmon oil was shown to |
| pharmaceutical companies. | | | | reduce the risk of death from heart disease by 23%, |
| An ABC report noted that a survey of clinical trials | | | | nearly double the benefit of statin drugs. Salmon oil is |
| revealed that when a drug company did not fund a | | | | an omega-3 fatty acid that gets incorporated into |
| study, favorable results regarding a drug were found | | | | cholesterol and triglycerides and prevents the |
| only 50% of the time. In studies funded by drug | | | | oxidation of LDL cholesterol. Since LDL cholesterol is |
| companies favorable results about the drugs were | | | | protected from excessive oxidation there is less |
| reported an amazing 90% of the time. Money can | | | | plaque buildup and less risk of heart disease. |
| and does buy the desired results. This is how most | | | | Inflammation is a well-known component in the |
| medical research and drugs are now developed and | | | | formation of atherosclerosis. To keep it simple, think |
| brought to market. | | | | of inflammation and oxidation as the same process. |
| In 1977, the internationally-renowned heart surgeon, | | | | The immune system's response to inflammation is |
| Dr. Michael DeBakey pointed out that only 30-40% of | | | | torelease peroxides that act like acid to break down |
| people with blocked arteries and heart disease have | | | | damaged tissues, so that cells from the immune |
| elevated blood cholesterol levels, and posed the | | | | system, macrophages, can consume the molecules |
| logical question, "How do you explain the other | | | | and clean up the site. But peroxides escalate the |
| 60-70%?" | | | | oxidation/inflammation process, thus damaging more |
| Because lowering cholesterol did not reduce the risk | | | | tissue. The arterial walls become more inflamed, |
| of death from heart disease, the Cholesterol | | | | escalating the formation of plaque and scarring. The |
| Consensus Conference in 1984 developed new | | | | downward cycle continues until atherosclerosis is so |
| guidelines to lower the "acceptable level" of | | | | advanced that the occurrence of a heart attack or |
| cholesterol. High cholesterol would now be the | | | | stroke becomes imminent. |
| diagnosis for any man or woman with a cholesterol | | | | The liver's response to inflammation is to release C |
| level over 200. Doctors had to convince their patients | | | | reactive protein (CRP) into the blood. Other |
| that they had the disease and needed to take one | | | | inflammatory causes can cause elevated CRP levels, |
| or more expensive drugs for the rest of their lives. | | | | including cigarette smoking, obesity, insulin |
| However, when lowering total cholesterol levels | | | | insensitivity, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, infections, |
| below 200 did not translate into saving lives from | | | | dementia, colorectal cancer, high blood pressure, and |
| heart attacks, the focus then turned to LDL | | | | aging. Accordingly, elevated CRP levels are a direct |
| cholesterol levels. The "disease" of high cholesterol | | | | indication of inflammation in the body and that |
| was refined to the disease of high LDL cholesterol. | | | | atherosclerosis, including heart disease, is actively |
| The unfortunate patient who had an LDL cholesterol | | | | developing. |
| level above 130 was now condemned to a lifetime of | | | | Homocysteine and high sensitivity CRP levels can and |
| expensive drugs. Though completely illogical, even | | | | should be tested. Dr. Jialal, of the Universtity of |
| when a person with normal LDL cholesterol levels | | | | Texas Southwestern Medical School at Dallas, is well |
| suffered a heart attack, he would still be prescribed a | | | | known for his research correlating oxidized LDL |
| cholesterol-lowering drug. | | | | cholesterol as the true cause of atherosclerosis, has |
| As we shall see, statin drugs reduce the risk of death | | | | also identified high sensitivity C reactive protein as a |
| by repeat heart attacks by as much as 30%, but | | | | predictive risk factor for inflammation of arterial walls |
| interestingly enough, the mechanism of action in | | | | and plaque formation. Your doctor may not test for |
| reducing the risk of death after a heart attack is not | | | | these routinely, but you should insist on getting these |
| via statin drugs' ability to lower cholesterol! It has | | | | tests done. Both of these predictive values can be |
| been discovered that statin drugs have a modest | | | | kept at "safe" levels. Vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, |
| anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effect. Yet, there | | | | and omega-3 fatty acids can lower the levels of |
| are many natural antioxidants that reduce | | | | homocysteine and CRP. The B vitamins, along with |
| inflammation and oxidation of LDL cholesterol and the | | | | betaine, or tri-methyl-glycine (TMG), change |
| lining of the arteries, which may soon be discovered | | | | homocysteine into safer amino acids and reduce |
| to be more effective in reducing the risk of death | | | | inflammation of the LDL cholesterol and the arterial |
| than "antioxidant drugs," without toxic side effects. | | | | lining. |
| The myth that high LDL cholesterol is the primary | | | | When you receive the results of your homocysteine |
| cause of heart disease, and that we must be on | | | | test, do not accept the answer, "Your test was |
| drugs to protect ourselves is dispelled by the | | | | normal." Ask for the actual number. The doctor and |
| evidence. If the premise were true that people with | | | | nurse usually know what is normal by what the lab |
| high levels of LDL cholesterol get heart disease, then | | | | slip states as the "normal range." Most lab results |
| we could assume that people with normal levels of | | | | report a normal homocysteine level as being below |
| LDL should not get heart disease, or at least very | | | | 10.4, when in fact, since the early 1990's, researchers |
| few should get it. However, as Dr. DeBakey | | | | have known that a homocysteine count above 6.5 |
| observed, approximately 60% of those who die | | | | signals a rapid linear rise in the risk for heart disease. |
| from heart disease have normal LDL cholesterol | | | | Furthermore, with every 3 point elevation of |
| levels! | | | | homocysteine above 6.5, e.g., when homocysteine |
| Furthermore, after over 45 years of doctors | | | | levels are 9.5, the risk of coronary artery disease |
| prescribing cholesterol-lowering drugs, heart disease | | | | (CAD) rises by an additional 35%! Yet you may be |
| and stroke still remain the number one cause of | | | | told that 9.5 is "normal and not to worry." With a |
| death in both women and men. This says that | | | | homocysteine level of 12.5, the increase in therisk for |
| regardless of whether you have a high or a normal | | | | heart disease exceeds 70%. The greater the |
| level of cholesterol, you have a 50% chance of dying | | | | homocysteine level, the greater the oxidationof both |
| from heart disease. If this is so, and it is, then why | | | | LDL cholesterol and the arterial lining. The greater the |
| take a dangerous drug to attempt to lower your | | | | inflammation, the higher the CRP. Is it any wonder |
| cholesterol in the first place? | | | | that homocysteine and CRP levels are more |
| In 2001, the target level of LDL cholesterol was | | | | predictive for risk of heart disease than cholesterol |
| lowered from 130 to 100, and overnight the number | | | | levels and ratios? |
| of people considered to be candidates for cholesterol | | | | I need to emphasize that anyone whether they have |
| statin drugs doubled. Many people such as myself | | | | a medical problem or not, should discuss this |
| bristled at the news, because we knew the | | | | information with their physician before acting upon |
| effectiveness of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants | | | | anything written here. The information provided is not |
| in preventing and reversing heart disease. Many of us | | | | meant to diagnose or treat any disease. It is for |
| could see the conspiracy for what it was. | | | | informational purposes only; and no one should make |
| The level at which LDL cholesterol is considered | | | | decisions about their medications without consulting |
| normal has continually been influenced by | | | | with their physician. No one should come off a |
| pharmaceutical companies, who pull the financial | | | | cholesterol-lowering statin drug in lieu of nutritional |
| strings of research grants that keep medical schools | | | | supplements without a thorough discussion with their |
| and medical organizations in business. The lower they | | | | physician who is keenly aware of all the pros and |
| can establish the level at which LDL cholesterol is | | | | cons of both treatment modalities. |