HEALTH: Hidden Side Effects of Cholesterol Lowering Drugs

[Guest guest]

LEARN THE HIDDEN SIDE EFFECTS OF CHOLESTEROL-LOWERING DRUGS

 

Health Sciences Institute e-Alert

March 5, 2002

 

**************************************************************

 

Dear Reader,

 

If you have high cholesterol, chances are your doctor has

already talked to you about the cholesterol-lowering drugs

called " statins. " Statins are one of the most frequently

prescribed drug classes in the world - over five million people

in the U.S. alone are currently taking them.

 

Doctors like statins because they work - and they work quickly

and easily. But, as they say, there's no such thing as a free

lunch. Yes, statins work - but at what price? Certainly, they

are expensive in dollar terms - but I'm really talking about the

physical toll these drugs can take on the body. We know some of

the obvious side effects they cause in some people, like liver

damage, sexual dysfunction, and peripheral neuropathy. But now a

new study shows that statins can also have more subtle effects

on the body - ones that can trigger a whole cascade of health

problems down the road.

 

-----------------------------

Do statins' results justify their collateral damage?

-----------------------------

 

In this Finnish study, doctors researched the effects of the

statin drug simvastatin (Zocor) and dietary changes on 120 men

between the ages of 35 and 64. All of the men had high

cholesterol (fasting serum concentrations between 232 and 309)

that had previously been untreated. The men were randomly

divided into two equal groups: one group was advised to continue

following their usual diet, while the other group was advised to

follow a Mediterranean-style diet. Specifically, the dietary

intervention included keeping saturated fat intake below 10

percent of total calories, cholesterol intake below 250 mg a

day, and increasing the intake of omega-3 fatty acids, fruits,

vegetables, and soluble fiber.

 

Then each group was further divided into two subgroups that took

either 20 mg of simvastatin each day or a placebo. They followed

this protocol for 12 weeks, and then each subgroup " crossed

over " to the other treatment. At baseline and at the end of each

12-week treatment period, the researchers assessed each

participant's blood pressure, weight, and exercise frequency, as

well as blood levels of cholesterol, insulin, and antioxidants.

 

There's no denying that simvastatin was effective at reducing

cholesterol levels. On average, the drug brought total

cholesterol levels down 20.8 percent. In contrast, dietary

intervention alone decreased total cholesterol by only 7.6

percent.

 

-----------------------------

Statin drug's surprising side effects lead down a dangerous

road

-----------------------------

 

But here's the revealing finding: simvastatin treatment also

INCREASED fasting serum insulin levels by 13 percent, and

DECREASED serum concentrations of important antioxidant vitamins

by as much as 22 percent. Among participants in the dietary

intervention group, blood tests revealed significantly lower

serum levels of critical nutrients like alpha-tocopherol,

beta-carotene, and co-enzyme Q-10 while taking the statin drug,

compared to the period when they took the placebo. At the same

time, glucose levels were not affected, suggesting a decrease in

insulin sensitivity.

 

We know that decreased insulin sensitivity leads us down a

dangerous road: insulin resistance, which leads to Type II

diabetes, and finally all the disease's associated conditions

like kidney disease, heart disease, even blindness. But not

getting the antioxidants you need could be equally troubling.

We've learned so much over the past decade about antioxidants'

critical role in good health; these nutrients help protect us

from atherosclerosis, Alzheimer's disease - even cancer.

 

You could argue that statin drugs protect us, too - by reducing

cholesterol levels and reducing the risk of heart disease. But

it seems like a case of robbing Peter to pay Paul. Ok, so your

cholesterol level comes down - but your insulin levels could go

up and your body could be robbed of essential nutrients.

Considering all of that, is the net effect of statins positive,

negative - or just a very expensive wash?

 

You have to make that decision for yourself, after weighing the

options with your doctor. But consider that there are safe,

natural ways to lower your cholesterol WITHOUT running the risk

of insulin resistance, nutrient loss, or other dangerous side

effects.

 

And, as I've written before, cholesterol is not the

be-all-end-all of heart disease prevention. In the November 28th

and 29th e-Alerts, I wrote about several other factors that may

be even more useful in determining your real risk - and how you

can address each one without drugs.

 

If you have high cholesterol, give diet, exercise, and natural

remedies a try before resorting to statins. You may have to be a

little more patient; you may not see results as quickly and

dramatically as you might by taking a pill. But in the end,

you'll know for sure that you're netting positive results for

your heart - and for your overall health.

 

To Your Good Health,

 

Jenny Thompson

Health Sciences Institute

 

Source:

JAMA 2002;287:598-605

11/28/02 EA: http://www.hsibaltimore.com/ea2001/ea_011128.html

11/29/02 EA: http://www.hsibaltimore.com/ea2001/ea_011129.html

 

Copyright ©1997-2002 by Institute of Health Sciences, L.L.C.

 

***